

OHO' <0 0 jf- ' 










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li the Savages 



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os an Indian Chief, 
| the left, 
enemy. 





5 'i'ecutnsfl 

6 A savage 

7 The sava 

8 The eneJ 



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r 



HISTORY 

OF THE 

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA ; 

OF 

THE LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS 

AT PLYMOUTH, 

AND OF THEIR MOST REMARKABLE 

ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE INDIANS 

IN NEW-ENGLAND, 

FROM THEIR FIRST LANDING IN 1620, UNTIL THE FINAL SUBJU- 
GATION OF THE NATIVES IN 1679. 



TO WHICH IS ANNEXED 

THE PARTICULARS OF ALMOST EVERY IMPORTANT ENGAGE- 
MENT WITH THE SAVAGES AT THE WESTWARD 
TO THE PRESENT DAY. 

INCLUDING THE DEFEAT OF GENERALS 

BRABDCCK? HAEMEE AID ST. CX.A.XXI; 



THE CREEK AND SEMINOLE WAR, &c. 



BY HENRY TRUMBULL. 



" My countrymen — These things ought not to be forgotten, for the benefit of our children^ 
and those that follow them, they should bej-ecorded in History FRANKLIN. 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY GEORGE 
1830. 



CLARK. 



DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, TO WIT: 



Be it remembered, That on the twenty-fourth day of Decem- 
ber, in the forty-third year of the Independence of the United States 
of America, Henry Trumbull, of the said District, hath deposited 
in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as 
author, in the words following to wit: 

History of the Discovery of America, of the Landing of our Forefathers at 
Plymouth, and of their most remarkable engagements with the Indians, in New-England, 
from their first landing in 1620, until the final subjugation of the natives in 1679 5 to 
•which is annexed, the defeat of Generals Braddock, Harmer, and St. Clair, by the In- 
dians at the Westward, &c. 

In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, 
entitled, £ An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing 
the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprie- 
tors of such copies, during the time therein mentioned.' 



H. W. EDWARDS, 

Clerk of the District of Connecticut, 




CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

PAGE 

Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, .... 5 
CHAPTER II. 

Landing of our Forefathers, 13 

CHAPTER III. 
Commencement of hostilities with the natives, . . . 24 

CHAPTER I Y. 

Invasion of New. York and New-England, and destruction of 

Schenectady by the French and Indians, . . . 75 

CHAPTER V. 

Massacre of the inhabitants of Deerfield, and captivity of the 

Rev. John Williams and family by the savages, . 80 

CHAPTER VI. 

Of the different tribes of Indians inhabiting the Western country, 95 

CHAPTER VII. 

Washington's Expedition, and defeat of Gen. Braddock by 

the Indians, 116 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Adventures of Capt. Daniel Boon, comprising an account of 
the wars with the Indians on the Ohio, from 1769 to 1782, 
written by himself, . . . . . . 121 



iv CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IX. 
Expedition of Gen. Harmer, and his defeat by the Indians, . 134 



CHAPTER X. 

Defeat of Gen. St. Clair by the Indians, . , . 138 

Indians defeated, . ■. . . . . " .146 

Defeat of Major M'Mahon, .147 

CHAPTER XL 

Depredations of the Indians on the frontiers, . . 149 

CHAPETR XII. 
Defeat of the Indians by Gen. Wayne, . . . .166 

CHAPTER XIII. 



Gov. Harrison's engagement with the savages on the Wabash, 172 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Engagement with the Indians during the late war with Great 

Britain, . .179 

CHAPTER XV. 

Creek War, Massacre at Fort Mims, Battle at Tallushatches, 

Tallegada, &c. . .... 188 

CHAPTER XVL 

Creek war continued, Battle at Antosse, Attack upon Camp 



Defiance, &c. - 199 

CHAPTER XVIT. 

Conclusion of the Creek war, Brilliant Victory at the bend of 

the Tallapoosa, &c. - - - - - 215 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

Seminole war, Preliminary Observations, &c. - - 224 



CHAP. L 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA, BY CHRIS- 
TOPHER COLUMBUS. 

Mankind owe the discovery of the western world 
to the gold, the silver, the precious stones, the spices, 
silks and costly manufactures of the East; and evert 
these incentives, were for a considerable time, insuf- 
ficient to prompt to the undertaking, although the 
most skilful navigator of the age proffered to risk his 
life in the attempt. 

Christopher Columbus, who was destined to the high 
honour of revealing a new hemisphere to Europeans, 
was by birth a Genoese, who had been early trained to 
a sea-faring life, and having acquired every branch of 
knowledge connected with that profession, was no less 
distinguished by his skill arid abilities, than for his in- 
trepid and persevering spirit. This man, when about 
forty years of age,had formed the great idea of reaching 
the East-Indies by sailing westward 5 but as his for- 
tune was very small, and the attempt required very 
effectual patronage, desirous that his native country 
should profit by his success, he laid his plan before the 
senate of Genoa,but the scheme appearing chimerical, 
it was rejected. He then repaired to the court of Por- 
tugal ; and although the Portuguese were at that time 
distinguished for their commercial spirit, and John II. 
who then reigned, was a discerning and enterprising 
prince, yet the prepossessions of the great men in his 
court, to whom the matter was referred, caused Co- 
lumbus finally to fail in his attempt there also. He 



6 BTSGOYERY OF AMERICA. 

next applied to Ferdinand and Isabella, king and 
queen of Arragon and Castile, and at the same time 
sent his brother Bartholomew (who followed the same 
profession 5 and who was well qualified to fill the im- 
mediate place under such a leader) to England, to lay 
the proposal before Henry VII. which likewise, very 
fortunately for the future well being of the country ? 
met with no success. Many were the years which 
Christopher Columbus spent in ineffectual attendance 
at the Castilian court ; the impoverished state into 
which the finances of the United Kingdoms were re- 
duced, the war with Granada repressing every dispo- 
sition to attempt great designs ; but the war being at 
length terminated, the powerful mind of Isabella 
broke through all obstacles ; she declared herself the 
patroness of Columbus, whilst her husband Ferdi- 
nand, declining to partake as an adventurer in the 
voyage, only gave it the sanction of his name. Thus 
did the superior genius of a woman effect the disco- 
very of one half of the globe. 

The ships sent on this important search were only 
three in number, two of them very small. They had 
ninety men on board. Although the expense of the 
expedition had long remained the sole obstacle to its 
being undertaken, yet when every thing was provided, 
the cost did not amount to more than 17,760 dollars, 
and there were twelve months provisions put on board. 

Columbus set sail from port Palos, in the province 
of Andalusia, on the 3d of August, 1492; he proceed- 
ed to the Canary islands, and from thence directed his 
course due West in the latitude 28 North. In this 
course he continued for two months, without falling in 
with any land, which caused such a spirit of discontent 
and mutiny to arise as the superior address and man- 
agement of the commander became unequal to sup- 
press, although for these qualities he was eminently 
distinguishedr He was at length reduced to the neces- 
sity of entering into a solemn engagement to abandon 
the enterprize and return home, if land did not appear 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



9 



si? three days. Probably he would not have been able 
to retain Ins people so long from acts of violence and 
outrage, in pursuing so untried and dreary a course, 
had they not been sensible that their safety in return- 
ing home depended very much on his skill as a navi- 
gator in conducting the vessel. 

At length the appearance of land changed their 
despondency to the most exulting rapture. It was an 
island abounding with inhabitants,both sexes of which 
were quite naked ; their manners kind, gentle, and 
unsuspecting. Columbus named it San Salvador It 
is one of the clusters which bears the general name of 
Bahama. It was only 3 deg. 30 min. lat. to the South 
of the island of Gomora, one of the Canaries, from 
whence he took his departure This navigator was 
still so confirmed in the opinion which he had formed 
before he undertook the voyage, that he believed him- 
self then to be on an island which was situated adjacent 
to the Indies. Proceeding to the South, he saw three 
other islands which he named St. Mary, of the Concep- 
tion, Ferdinand and Isabella. At length he arrived at 
a very large island, and as he had taken seven of the 
natives of San Salvador on board, he learned from them 
it was called Cuba, but he gave it the name of Juanna. 
He next proceeded to an island which he called Es- 
pagnola, in honour of the kingdom by which he was 
employed, and it still bears the name of Hispaniola. 
Here he built a fort and formed a small settlement. 
He then returned home, having on board sGme of the 
natives, whom he had taken from the different islands. 
Steering a more southern course, he fell in with some 
of the Carribee islands, and arrived at the port of Pa- 
los on the loth of March, 1493 5 having been seven 
months and eleven days on this most important voyage* 
On his arrival letters patent were issued by the king 
and queen confirming to Columbus, and to his heirs, 
all the privileges contained in a capitulation which 
had been executed before his departure, and his fa« 
mi\y was ennobled. 



8 DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 

Not only the Spaniards, but the other nations of 
Europe, seem to have adopted the opinion of Col urn - 
bus, in considering the countries which he had disco- 
vered as a part of India. Whence Ferdinand and 
Isabella gave them the name 4 * Indies 53 in the ratifi- 
cation of their former agreement with Columbus. 
Even after the error was detected the name was re- 
tained, and the appellation of " West Indies 55 is now 
given by all Europe to this country, and that of In- 
dians to the inhabitants. 

Nothing could possibly tend more effectually to 
rouse every active principle of human nature, than the 
discoveries which Columbus had made ; no time was 
therefore lost, nor expense spared, in preparing a 
fleet of ships, with which this great man should revis- 
it the countries he had made known. Seventeen ships 
were got ready in six months, and fifteen hundred 
persons embarked on board of them, among whom 
were many of noble families, and who had filled hon- 
ourable stations. These engaged in the enterprise 
from the expectation that the new discovered country 
was either the Cipango of Marco Paulo, or the Ophir 
from which Solomon obtained his gold and precious 
ynerchandize. Ferdinand, now desirous of securing 
what he had before been unwilling to venture for the 
obtaining, applied to the Pope to be invested with a 
right in these new discovered countries, as well as to 
all future discoveries in that direction ; but as it was 
necessary that there should be some favour of reli- 
gion in the business, he founded his plea on a desire 
of converting the savage natives to the Catholic faith, 
which plan had its desired effect. 

Alexander VI. who then filled the papal chair, it 
ought to be mentioned, was the most profligate and 
abandoned of men. Being a native of Arragon, and 
desirous of conciliating the favour of F erdinand, for 
the purpose of aggrandizing his family, he readily 
granted a request, which, at no expense or risk, tend- 
ed to extend the consequence and authority of the 



DISCOVERY 



OF AMERICA. 



9 



papacy ; he therefore bestowed on Ferdinand and 
Isabella, " all the countries inhabited by infidels, 
which they had discovered." But as it was necessary 
to prevent this grant from interfering with one not 
long before made to the crown of Portugal, he ap- 
pointed that a line supposed to be drawn from pole to 
pole, one hundred miles to the westward of Azores, 
should serve as a limit between them ; and in the 
plenitude of his power, conferred all to the east of 
this imaginary line upon the Portuguese, and all to 
the west of it upon the Spaniards. 

Columbus set sail on his voyage from the port of 
Cadiz, on the 25th of September, 1493. When he 
arrived at Espagniola, he had the affliction to find that 
all the Spaniards whom he had left there, amounting 
to thirty-six in number, had been put to death by the 
natives, in revenge for the insults and outrages which 
they had committed. After having traced out the 
plan of a town in a large plain, near a spacious bay, 
and given it the name of Isabella, in honour of his pa- 
troness the queen of Castile, and appointed his brother 
Don Diego, to preside, as Deputy Governour in his 
absence, Columbus, on the 24th of April, 1494, sailed 
with one ship and two small barks, to make further 
discoveries in those seas. In this voyage he was em- 
ployed five months, and fell in with many small islands 
on the coast of Cuba, but with none of any importance 
except the island of Jamaica. Soon after his return 
to Hispaniola, he resolved to make war with the In- 
dians, who, according to the Spanish historians, 
amounted to 100,000 men. These having experien- 
ced every lawless act of violence from their invaders, 
were rendered extremely inveterate, and thirsted for 
revenge, a disposition which appears to have been for- 
eign from their natures. Having collected his full 
force, he attacked them by night, whilst they were 
assembled on a wide plain, and obtained a most deci- 
sive victory, w ithout the loss of one man on his part. 
Beside the effect of cannon and firearms; the noise of 



©ISCOVERtf OF AMERICA. 



which was appalling, and their effect against a mime* 
to us body of Indians, closely drawn together, in the 
Jiighest degree destructive, Columbus had brought 
over with him a small body of cavalry. The Indians 
who had never before seen such a creature, imagined 
the Spanish horses to be rational beings, and that each 
with its rider formed but one animal 5 they were as- 
tonished at their speed, and considered their impetu- 
osity and strength as irresistible. In this onset they 
had beside another formidable enemy to terrify and 
destroy them : a great number of the largest and 
iiercest species of dogs which were then bred in Eu- 
rope, had been brought hither, which, set 00 by their 
weapons, without attempting resistance, they Med 
with all the speed which terror could excite. Num- 
bers were slain, and more made prisoners, who were 
immediately consigned to slavery. 

The character of Columbus stands very high in the 
estimation of mankind ; he is venerated not only as a 
man possessing superior fortitude, and such a steady 
perseverance, as no impediments, dangers or suffer- 
ings could shake, but as equally distinguished for pie- 
ty and virtue. His second son Ferdinand, who wrote 
the life of his father, apologizes for this severity to- 
wards the natives, on account of the distressed state 
into which the colony was brought. The change of 
climate, and the indispensable labours which were 
required of men unaccustomed to any exertions, had 
swept away great numbers of the new settlers, and the 
survivors were declining daily, whilst such was the 
irreconcileable enmity of the natives, that the most 
kind and circumspect conduct on the part of the 
Spaniards, would not have been effectual to regain 
their good will. This apology seems to have been 
generally admitted, for all modern writers have be- 
stowed upon the discoverer of the new world the 
warmest commendations unmixed with censure. It 
is an unpleasant task to derogate from exalted merit, 
and to impute a deliberate plan of cruelty and ex- 



DISCOVERT OP AMERICA. 



It 



tirpation to a man revered for moral worth : but al- 
though a pert affectation of novel opinions could only 
originate in weak minds, and can be countenanced on- 
ly by such, yet a free and unreserved scrutiny of facts, 
can alone separate truth from error, and apportion the 
just and intrinsic degree of merit belonging to any 
character. That Columbus had formed the design 
of waging offensive war against the Indians, and re- 
ducing them to slavery, before he entered upon his 
second voyage, and consequently before he was ap- 
prized of the destruction of the people which he had 
left upon the island of Hispaniola, may be inferred 
from his proceeding himself with such a number of 
fierce and powerful dogs. 

Having found the natives peaceable and well dis- 
posed, he had no reason to apprehend that they would 
commence unprovoked hostilities. The cavalry which 
he took over, whilst it tended to impress those people 
with the deepest awe and veneration, was fully suffi- 
cient for the security of the new colony, if the friend- 
ship of the natives had been sincerely meant to be cul- 
tivated by a kind and equitable deportment ; but to 
treat them as a free people was inconsistent with the 
views which led to planting a colony 5 for as the 
grand incentive to undertake distant voyages was the 
hope of acquiring gold, so, as Columbus had seen 
some worn as ornaments by the natives, and had been 
informed that the mountainous parts of the country 
yielded that precious metal, he had excited expecta- 
tions in his employers, and in the nation at large ? 
which both his interest and ambition compelled him 
as far as possible to realize. The Spaniards could not 
obtain gold without the assistance of the natives, and 
those were constitutionally so indolent that no allure- 
ments of presents or gratification could excite them to 
labour. To rescue himself there! ore from disgrace, 
and to secure further support, he seems deliberately to 
have devoted a harmless race of men to slaughter and 
slavery. Such as survived the massacre ©f that dread- 



DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 



ful day, and preserved their freedom, fled into the 
mountains and inaccessible parts of the island, which 
not yielding them sufficient means of subsistence, they 
were compelled to obtain a portion of food from their 
cruel pursuers, by procuring gold dust in order to 
support life ! a tribute being imposed on them which 
was rigorously exacted. These wretched remains of 
a free people, thus driven from fruitfulness to ame- 
nity ; compelled to labour for the support of life ; a 
prey to despondency, which the recollection of their 
former happiness sharpened, and which their hopeless 
situation rendered insupportable, died in great num- 
bers, the innocent, but unrevenged victims of Europe- 
an avarice. Such are the facts which have been ad- 
mitted; yet, strange contradiction! Columbus is 
celebrated for his humanity and goodness ! But 
should he not rather be considered as a most consum- 
mate dissembler ; professing moderation whilst he 
meditates subversion, and, like most of the heroes and 
conquerors whom history records, renouncing every 
principle of justice and humanity when they stopped 
the career of his ambition ! Ferdinand Columbus, 
his son and biographer, has, with great address, cov- 
ered the shame of his father, whilst the admiring 
world has been little disposed to censure a man, the 
splendor of whose actions so powerfully fascinates 
and dazzles. 



CHAP. IT. 



LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 



The English, conducted by John Cabot, in the year 
1497, found the way to North America soon after Co- 
lumbus had successfully crossed the Atlantic ; but as 
the torrents in that country brought down no gold, and 
the Indians were not bedecked with any costly orna- 
ments, no attempts were made to explore the country 
for near a century after its discovery. Sir Francis* 
Drake, who traversed the whole circumference of the 
globe in one voyage, and in one ship, which had never 
been achieved before, when afterward annoying the 
Spaniards in the West Indies, and on the main, gained 
some knowledge of the eastern shore of the northern 
continent, as he had before of the western parts about 
the same parallel. Sir Walter Raleigh, however, was 
the first navigator who explored the coast, bestowed 
on it a name, and attempted to settle a colony. 

At that time colonization made no part of the sys- 
tem of government, so that there were few stimulants 
to abandon a native soil for the purpose of seeking 
possesions in another hemisphere. At length a pow- 
erful incentive arose, stronger than the influence of 
kings,, than the love of ease, than the dread of misery. 
Keligion, which had long been converted into the 
most powerful engine which human subtlety ever 
made use of to subjugate the mass of mankind, no 
sooner ceased to be so perverted, than by its own 
proper forere it compelled large bodies of people to re- 
nounce every present enjoyment, the instinctive love of 



14 



LANDING 



OF OUR 



FOREFATHERS. 



a native soil; rooted habits, and dearest connexions, 
and to settle in the dreary wilds of a far distant con- 
tinent. 

When England, by a very singular concurrence of 
circumstances, threw off the papal yoke, state policy 
so predominated in the measure, that the consciences 
of men were still required to bend to the discipline, 
conform to the ceremonials, and assent to the doctrines 
which the governing powers established. Although a 
dissent from the church of Rome was considered as 
meritorious, yet a dissent from the church of England 
was held to be heretical, and an offence to be punished 
by the civil magistrate. The human mind, somewhat 
awakened from a suspension of its powers by a Wick- 
liffe, further enlightened by an Erasmus and Me- 
lanthon, and at length called forth into energy by the 
collision of those two ardent and daring spirits, Luther 
and Calvin, then began to bend ail its attention to- 
wards religious inquiries ; and exercised all its pow- 
ers in such pursuits. Hence arose a vast diversity of 
opinions, which gave rise to numerous sects and de- 
nominations of Christians ; but as the Protestant es- 
tablishment in England held it essential to preserve 
a unity of faith, those novel opinions obtained no 
more quarter there than under papal power. 

In the year 1810, a company of the persecuted 
religionists, composing the church of a Mr. Robinson, 
having previously determined to remove to a country 
where they might be enabled to worship God, agree- 
able to the dictates of their consciences, emigrated to 
Holland, and settled in the city of Leyden ; where 
they continued to reside until the year 1620. Al- 
though the ecclesiastical laws of Holland did not at 
this time sanction or condemn the principles of any 
particular sect of Christians, yet great were the dis- 
advantages under which the emigrants laboured ; for 
notwithstanding the Dutch gave them a welcome re- 
ception, and manifested a disposition to treat them with 
great respect, they never could be prevailed upon by 



LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 



15 



the former to conform to their mode of worship, or to 
renounce principles which the English conceived de- 
structive to moral society ; nor did the emigrants here 
succeed in other respects agreeable to their views. So 
far from increasing their little flock, they found that 
in the course of ten years they had experienced a 
diminution of more than one half their original num- 
ber 5 many in consequence of the impoverished state of 
the country, had spent their estates and returned to 
England. Hence it was that the remaining few formed 
the determination of attempting once more to seek a 
country better adapted to their pious purposes, and 
such as would promise a more fruitful abode to their 
offspring. To some the unexplored parts of America 
was proposed, and after a day set apart for solemn hu- 
miliation and praise to Almighty God, it was resolved 
that a part of the church should first emigrate to 
America, and if there meeting with a favourable re- 
ception, should prepare an abode for the remainder. 

They easily obtained a royal grant of a very ex- 
tensive tract of land (now called New-England) 
whither they intended to repair, not to amass wealth, 
or to exterminate the inhabitants, but to subsist by in- 
dustry, to purchase security by honourable inter- 
course with the natives, and to acquire strength un- 
der the auspices of freedom. 

They made a purchase of two small ships, and on 
the 5th August, 1620, having repaired to Plymouth 
(Eng.) for the purpose, were in readiness to embark ; 
previous to which, they were very affectionately ad- 
dressed by their pious pastor, Dr. Robinson, who in 
fervent prayer commended them all to the holy keep- 
ing of Him, who rides the destinies of all men. 

At 1 1, A. M. with a fair wind, they set sail, and bid 
adieu for ever to their native country. Nothing mate- 
rial occured to obstruct their passage until the 25th, 
when they experienced a tremendous gale, which 
threatened them with instant destruction! For three 
days successively they whre tossed about at the mercy 



16 LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 

of the waves. The ships were, however, enabled to 
keep company until the stonn had somewhat abated, 
when those on board one of them conceived their ves- 
sel no longer sea- worthy, abandoned her and were 
received on board the other. 

On the 10th November, they, to their inexpressible 
joy, discovered land, which proved to be that of Cape 
Cod, where they with much difficulty the day follow- 
ing succeeding in landing. As soon as on shore, they 
fell upon their knees and returned thanks to the Al- 
mighty for enabling them to reach in safety their place 
of destination. But although they had thus far sue ced- 
ed in their views, although they had been enabled to 
iiee from persecution, to cross a wide and boisterous 
ocean, what was their situation now ! Sojourners in a 
foreign land ! Traversing the broken and unwrought 
shores of a wild and unexplored country ! They found 
here no friends to welcome, or house to shelter them 
from the inclemency Gf an approaching winter; on one 
side they beheld nought but a hideous and desolate wil- 
derness, the habitation of wild and voracious animals, 
and probably the abode of a race of beings not less 
wild and unmerciful ! On the briny ocean foaming, 
and with tremendous roar dashing against the huge 
and projecting rocks, which, as far as the eye could 
perceive, marked the sea-beaten shores. 

After succeeding, with much difficulty, in discover- 
ing a harbour in which their ship could ride with safe- 
ty, they made choice of ten of the most resolute of 
their number to explore the adjacent country, and dis- 
cover, if possible, a more convienent place for their 
future abode 5 who, on the morning of the 16th, pro- 
vided with a musket each, set out for this purpose. 
They had not penetrated the woods above three miles, 
when they discovered five of the natives, which were 
the first seen by them since their arrival. They were 
eloathed with the skins of animals^ and armed with 
bows and arrows. The English, with sings offriend- 
shu), made toward them, but were no sooner discov- 



LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 



17 



ered by tho savages, than they, with a terrible yell 
fled with the greatest precipitancy. Night approach- 
ing, the English erected a small temporary emcamp- 
inent, and after placing their sentinels, retired to rest. 
Early the ensuing morning they continued their jour- 
ney, following for a considerable distance the tracts of 
the live Indians above mentioned, in hopes thereby to 
discover their habitations and obtain therefrom afresh 
supptj of provision, of which they were much in want 5 
but in this they did not fully succeed. At about noon 
they arrived at an extensive plat of clear ground, near 
which they discovered a pond of fresh water, and 
several hillocks of raised earth, which they conjectur- 
ed to he the graves of the Indians. Proceeding a little 
further west, they discovered a large quantity of stub- 
ble, which they imagined to be that of some kind of In- 
dian grain peculiar to the country 5 they also discov- 
ered a spot where they suspected an Indian hut had re- 
cently stood, as they found near by some planks curi- 
ously wrought, and a small earthen pot. Proceeding 
still farther they discovered a number more of the 
little hillocks of broken ground as above described, 
and which they now began to suspect to be the place of 
deposit of something more than the dead ! Curiosity 
leading them to examine more closely one of these, 
what they had before supposed to be Indian sepul- 
chres, they, to their great surprise, found it to con- 
tain a large quantity of the Indian grain (corn) above 
mentioned ! It was still in the ear, and excited to no 
small degree the curiosity of the English, as they had 
never before seen any thing of the kind. By a few of 
the company the discovery was deemed of impor- 
tance, but by others, who had attempted to eat of 
the corn in its raw state, it was pronounced indiffer- 
ent food of little value ! They, however, concluded 
it best to return and make known the discovery to 
their brethren. 

Having succeeded with some difficulty in reaching 
the place from which they started, they were met by 



18 



LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 



those whom they had left behind with the most un- 
speakable joy and satisfaction, to whom they exhibit- 
ed a specimen of the grain which they had found, and 
recommended the spot from which it was procured, as 
the most convenient and suitable at which to abide 
through the approaching w inter. The company ac- 
cordingly, on the 25th, proceeded for and in safety 
reached the place abovementioned, with which being 
so much pleased, they termed New Plymouth, in re- 
membrance of the port at which they last embarked 
in Europe. Here they concluded to abide until such 
time as further discoveries could be made. They 
erected a few temporary huts, sufficient to shelter 
them from the weather, and soon after by mutual con- 
sent entered into a solemn combination, as a body 
politic 5 and on the 10th December, assembled to 
form for themselves such a government and laws, as 
they should deem the most just and equitable ; pre- 
vious to which, the following instrument was drawn 
up, which being first read and assented to by the 
company, received their signatures, to wit : 

" In the name of God, amen. We, whose names 
are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sove- 
reign, King James, by the grace of God, King of 
Great Britain, France and Ireland, and defender of 
the faith, &,c. having undertaking for the glory of God, 
advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our 
king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in 
the north parts of America, do by these presents sol- 
emnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one 
another, covenant and combine ourselves together 
into a civil body politic, for our own convenience and 
the preservation and support of the ends aforesaid ; 
and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute and frame 
such just and equal laws, ordinances,acts, constitutions 
and officers,from time to time, as shall be thought most 
meet and convenient for the general good of the colo- 
ny, unto which we promise all due submission and 
obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto sub- 



/ 



LANDING OF OUR FORK FATHERS. 



19 



scribed our names, at New Plymouth, on the 10th day 
of December, A. D. 1620/' 



The company next proceeded by ballot to the choice 
of a Governor, and on counting the votes it appeared 
that John Carver had the greatest number, and was 
declared chosen for one year. 

On the 19th December, Mrs. Susannah White, the 
wife of William White, was delivered of a son, which 
was the first born of the English in New- England. 

On the 21 st of the same month it was agreed by the 
company to despatch a second exploring party, by wa- 
ter, ro make, if possible, further discoveries. The per- 
sons selected for this purpose were Governor Carver, 
Messrs. Bradford, Winslow,Standish, Howland, War- 
ren, Hopkins,Allerton,Tilley, Clarke, Tinker,Turner 
and Brown. They embarked at 10 A. M. with a view 
of circumnavigating the deep bay of Cape Cod. On 
the morning of the 23d they discovered a large party 
of the natives on shore, who were employed in cutting 
up a fish resembling a grampus. By order of Governor 



John Carver, 
William Bradford, 
Edward Winslow, 
William Brewster, 
Isaac Allerton, 
Miles Standish, 
Joseph Fletcher, 
John Goodman, 
Samuel Fuller, 
Christopher Martin 
William White, 
Richard Warren, 
John Howland, 
Stephen Hopkins, 
Digery Priest/ 
Thomas Williams, 
Gilbert Winslow, 
Edmund Morgeson, 
Peter Brown, 



John Alden, 
John Turner, 
Francis Eaton, 
James Chilton, 
John Craxton, 
John Billington, 
Richard Bitteridge, 
George Soule, 
Edward Tilley, 
John Tilley, 
Thomas Rogers, 
Thomas Tinker, 
John Ridgdale, 
Edward Fuller, 
Richard Clarke, 
Richard Gardiner, 
John Allerton, 
Thomas English, 
Edward Leister. 



20 



LANDING Op OUR FOREFATHERS. 



Carver, the English made immediately for the shore, 
but were no sooner discovered by the Indians, than 
they, with a yell peculiar to savages, deserted their 
fish and fled with precipitancy ! the English landed 
and took possession of the fish, which, having enkin- 
dled a fire, they cooked and found to be excellent food. 
They concluded to continue encamped here through 
the night, and while employed (a few rods from their 
boat in which their arms were deposited) in erecting 
a temporary dwelling for the purpose, they were sud- 
denly attacked by a large party of the natives, who 
discharged a shower of arrows among them. The 
English, nearly panic struck at so sudden and unex- 
pected an onset, were on the eve of retreating to their 
boat, when they were reminded by their Governor 
(a brave and experienced man) of the importance of 
facing the enemy, and maintaining their ground, as a 
precipitate flight might prove their total destruction, 
In the mean time two or three of the company were 
despatched for their arms, arid having obtained them, 
the whole were ordered to form a close body, and 
proceed with moderate pace for the boat, and if hard 
pushed by the natives, to face about and give them the 
contents of their muskets. The Indians perceiving 
the English retiring, rushed from their strong coverts, 
and were on the point of attacking them in the rear 
with clubs, hatchets, stones, &c. when they received 
the fire of the latter, which brought three or four of 
them to the ground. The Indians halted, viewed for 
a few moments, with marks of astonishment and sur- 
prise, their wounded brethren, and then with one gen- 
eral united yell, which probably might have been 
heard at the distance of three miles, fled in every di- 
rection ! This was the first engagement between the 
English and natives in New-England, and probably 
the first time that the latter had ever heard the re- 
port of a musket ! 

The English embarked and returned immediately 
to New Plymouth, having been absent four days, 



LANDING OF OUR FOREFATHERS. 



21 



without making any important discoveries. The 
company despairing of making any discovery of im- 
portance during the winter, concluded to remain at 
their winter quarters until the spring ensuing. The 
winter proved an uncommonly tedious one, during 
which a great proportion of the company sickened 
and died ! Unaccustomed to hardship, and deprived 
of many of the necessaries of life, they fell victims to 
the inclemency of the season. Being thus reduced to 
a very small number, they would have fallen a very 
easy prey to the savages, had the latter (relying on 
the superiority of their strength) attacked them, but 
the natives having by bitter experience learned the 
effects of their fire arms, although they were daily 
seen by the English at a distance, not one of them 
could be prevailed upon to approach them within 
gun shot, until about the 20th March, 1621, when to 
their great surprize an Indian came boldly up to 
them and addressed them in broken English ! He 
informed them that he belonged to an eastern part 
of the country, and was acquainted with a number of 
their countrymen, who came frequently there to 
procure fish, and of whom he learned to speak their 
language. 

This Indian proved very serviceable to the compa- 
ny, in supplying them with provision, in acquainting 
them with the state of the country, the number and 
strength of the natives, and the name of their chief 
sachem,to whom the land which they improved belong- 
ed. The Indian being dismissed with many presents 
and friendly assurances, the day following returned, 
accompanied by the grand sachem (Massasoit) and a 
number of his chief men, to whom the English gave 
a welcome reception, presenting them with many 
trinkets which the natives esteemed of great value. 
With Massasoit a treaty was proposed and conclud- 
ed the day following, in which it was stipulated 
that the English and natives were to live amicably 
together, and that the latter were to furnish the 
former with provision, and to receive in pay there- 
4 



LANDING OF QUR FOREFATHERS* 



for such articles as the former were willing to part 
with ; which terms both parties continued ever after 
faithfully to Fulfil. 

In May, 1621, the English planted their first corn 
in New-England. In July following their worthy Go- 
vernor sickened and died ! His death was greatly 
lamented by those of the company who survived 
him, and by whom he was interred with all possible 
solemnity. His loving consort survived him but a 
few weeks. In August the company made choice of 
Mr. William Bradford to- fill the vacancy occasioned 
by the death of Grov. Carver. 

New-England from this period began to be rapid- 
ly peopled by the Europeans. So great was the em- 
igration from the mother country, that in less than 
six years from the time that the first adventurers 
landed at New Plymouth, there were seven consid- 
erable towns built and settled in Massachusetts and 
Plymouth colonies. 

In the summer of 1627 Mr. Endicot, one of the 
original planters, was sent over to begin a plantation 
at Naumkeag ? (now Salem.) The June following 
about £00 persons, furnished with four ministers, 
came over and joined Mr. Endicot's colony ; and the 
next year they formed themselves into a a regular 
church* This wa3 the first church gathered in 
Massachusetts, and the second in New-England. 
The church at Plymouth had been gathered eight 
years before. In 1629 a large embarkation was 
projected by the company in England. At the re- 
quest of a number of respectable gentlemen, most of 
whom afterwards came over to New-England, the 
general consent of the company was obtained, that 
the government should be transferred and settled in* 
Massachusetts. 

In 1630, seventeen ships from different ports in 
England arrived in Massachusetts, with more than 
1500 passengers, among whom were many persons 
of distinction. Incredible were the hardships they 
endured. Reduced to a scanty pittance of provisions, 



LANDING 0'f OUR 



FORE FATHERS. 



23 



and that of a kind to which they had not been accus° 
tomed, and destitute of necessary accommodations, 
numbers sickened and died, so that before the end 
of the year they had lost 200 of their number. 
About this time, settlements were made at Charles- 
town, Medford, Boston, Dorchester, Cambridge and 
Roxbury. 

In the years 1632 and 1633 great additions were 
made to the colony. Such was the rage for emigra- 
tion to New-England, that the king and council 
thought fit to issue an order, February 7, 1633, to 
prevent it. The order, however^ was not strictly 
obeyed. 

In 1635 the foundation of a new colony was laid 
in Connecticut, adjoining the river which passes 
through the state. Of this river and the country ad- 
jacent, Lord Say and Lord Brook, w 7 ere the propri- 
etors ; and at the mouth of it a fort by their 
direction was built, which in honour to them, was 
called Say brook fort. New -Haven was settled soon 
after the building of this fort, as was a number of 
other towns of considerable note in Connecticut. 
Some difficulty arising among those who first settled 
at New-Plymouth, a part of the inhabitants, to pre- 
vent any serious consequences, removed to a pleasant 
and fertile island to the S. W. of Cape Cod, now 
called Rhode Island, while others settled at Provi- 
dence, Warwick, Taunton, &c. Thus it was, that 
in the course of a very few years a great part of 
New-England, which so late was an uncultivated 
forest, resounding with the yells of savages and beasts 
£jf prey, became the place of abode of our persecuted 
Forefathers. 

But this newly settled country was not to be 
acquired without bloodshed. The natives, although 
they at first appeared harmless and well disposed 
toward the sew settlers, from the rapid increase and 
too frequent aggression of the latter, the jealousy of 
the former was excited, which they soon began more 
openly to manifest as will appear by what follows, 



CHAP. III. 



COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES WITH THE 
NATIVES. 



There was a tribe of Indians which inhabited the 
borders of Connecticut river from its mouth to within 
a few miles of Hartford, called Pequots, a fieree, cruel 
and warlike tribe, and the inveterate enemies of the 
English; never failing to improve every opportunity 
to exercise toward them, the most wanton acts of bar- 
barity. In June, 1634, they treacherously murdered 
a Capt. Stone and a Capt. Norton, who had been 
long in the habit of visiting them occasionally to trade. 
In August, 1635, they inhumanly murdered a Mr. 
Weeks and his whole family, consisting of a wife and 
six children, and soon after murdered the wife and 
children of a Mr. Williams, residing near Hartford. 
Finding however, that by their unprovoked acts of 
barbarity, they had enkindled the resentment of the 
English, (who, aroused to a sense of their danger were 
making preparations to exterminate this cruel tribe,) 
the Pequots despatched messengers with gifts to the 
governor of the colonies, the Hon. Josiah Winslow. 
He being, however, inflexible in his determination to 
revenge the death of his friends, dismissed these mes- 
sengers without an answer. The Pequots finding the 
English resolute and determined, and fearing the con- 
sequences of their resentment, the second time des- 
patched messengers with a large quantity of wampum 
(Indian money) as a present to the governor and 
council; with whom the latter had a considerable 
conference, and at length concluded a peace on the 
following terms: 



1 JS D 1 A >' W A R S . * 25 

ARTICLES. 

i. The PeqiiQts shall deliver up to the English 
those of their tribe that are guilty of the deaths of 
their countrymen. 

II. The Pequots shall relinquish to the English 
all their right and title to the lands lying within the 
colony of Connecticut. 

IK. The English, if disposed to trade with the 
Pequots, shall be treated as friends. 

To these articles the Pequots readily agreed, and 
promised faithfully to adhere, and at the same time 
expressed a desire to make peace with the Narragan- 
set Indians, with whom they were then at war. 

Soon after the conclusion of peace with the Pequots, 
the English, to put their fair promises to the test, 
sent a small boat into the river, on the borders of 
which they resided, with the pretence of trade; but 
so great was the treachery of the natives, that after 
succeeding by fair promises in enticing the crew of 
said boat on shore, they were by them inhumanly 
murdered. 

The Pequots despairing of again deceiving the En- 
glish in the manner they had lately done, now threw 
off the mask of friendship, and avowing themselves 
the natural enemies of the English, commenced open 
hostilities against them, barbarously murdering all 
that were so unfortunate as to fail into their hands. 
A few families were at this time settled at or near 
Weathersfield, (Conn.) the whole of whom were car- 
ried away captives by them. Two girls, the daugh- 
ters of Mr. Gibbons, of Hartford, were in the most 
brutal manner put to death. After gashing their flesh 
with their knives, the Indians filled their wounds with 
hot embers, in the mean time mimicking their dying 
groans. 

The Pequots, encouraged by the trifling resistance 
made by the English to their wanton acts of barbar- 
ity, on the 20th June, 1636, besieged fort Say brook, 
in which there were about twenty men stationed. The 
Indians were to the number of about one hundred 



26 



INDIAN WARS. 



and fifty. They surrounded and furiously att acked the 
fort at midnight, horribly yelling and mimicking the 
dying groans of such as had fallen victims to their 
barbarity ; but the English being fortunately pro- 
vided with a piece of cannon or two, caused their 
savage enemies to groan in reality, who, after receiv- 
ing two or three deadly fires from the besieged, re- 
treated, leaving behind them, dead or mortally wound- 
ed, about twenty of their number. The English sus- 
tained no loss in the attack. 

The Governor and Council of Massachusetts colony 
alarmed at the bold and daring conduct of the Pequots^ 
on the 20th of August despatched Capt. Endicot, of 
Salem, with ninety men, to avenge the murders com- 
mitted by them, unless they should consent to deliver 
up the murderers, and make reparation for the inju- 
ries which the English had sustained. Capt. Endi- 
cot was directed to proceed first to Block-Isiand ? 
(then inhabited by the Pequots) put the men to the 
sword and take possession of the island. The women 
and children were to be spared. Thence he was to 
proceed to the Pequot country, demand the murder- 
ers of the English, a thousand fathom of wampum* 
and a number of their children as hostages. 

Capt. Endicot sailed from Boston on the morning of 
the. 20th. When he arrived at Block-Island, about 
sixty Indians appeared on the shore and opposed his 
landing- His men soon however effected a landing 
and after a littie skirmishing drove the Indians into 
the wood, where they could not be found. The 
English continued two or three days on the island 
in which time they destroyed 100 wigwams, and 
about 50 canoes, when they proceeded for the Pequot 
country. When they arrived in Pequot harbor, Capt. 
Endicot acquainted the enemy with his designs and 
determination to avenge the cruelties practised upon 
his countrymen. In a few moments nearly 500 of 
the enemy collected on the shores ; but as soon as 
they were made acquainted with the hostile views of 
the English, they hastily withdrew, and secreted 



INDIAN W A R S-. 



21 



themselves in swamps and ledges inaccessible to the 
troops. Capt. Enclicot landed his men on both sides 
the harbour, burnt their wigwams and destroyed their 
canoes, killed an Indian or two, and then returned to 
Boston ! Enough indeed had been done to exasperate, 
but nothing to subdue a haughty and warlike enemy. 

Sacacus ( chief sachem of the Pequots) and his cap- 
tains, were men of great and independent spirits ; 
they had conquered and governed the nations around 
them wi (hout controul; they viewed the English as 
strangers and mere intruders, who had no right to the 
country > nor to controul its original proprietors. Inde- 
pendent princes and sovereigns, they had made settle- 
ments at Connecticut without their consent, and 
brought home the Indian kings whom they had con- 
quered, and restored to them their authority and lands. 
They had built a fort, and were making a settlement 
w ithout their approbation in their very neighbourhood. 
Indeed they had now proceeded to attack and ravage 
the country. The Pequots in consequence breathed 
nothing but war and revenge : they were determined 
to extirpate or drive all the English from New-Eng- 
land. For this purpose they conceived the plan of 
uniting the Indians generally against them ; they 
spared no art nor pains to make peace with the Nar- 
ragansets, and to engage them in the war against 
the English, to whom they represented that they 
were bad men, the natural enemies of the natives, 
and who also were foreigners, overspreading the coun- 
try, and depriving the original inhabitants of their 
ancient rights and possessions ; that unless effectual 
measures were immediately taken to prevent it, they 
would soon dispossess the original proprietors, and 
"become the lords of the continent. They insisted that 
by a general combination they could either destroy 
or drive them from the country ; that there would be 
no necessity of coming to open battles 5 that by killing 
their cattle, firing their houses, laying ambushes on 
the roads, in the fields, and wherever they could sur- 
prise and destroy them, they might accomplish their 



28 INDIAN WARS. 

wishes; they represented that if the English should 
effect the destruction of the Pequots, they would also 
soon destroy the Narragansets So just and politic 
were those representations, that nothing hut that 
thirst for revenge, which inflames the savage heart, 
could have resisted their influence. Indeed it is said 
that for some time the Narragansets hesitated. 

The governor of the colonies, to prevent an union 
between these savage nations, and to strengthen the 
peace between the Narraganset Indians and the col- 
onies, despatched a messenger to invite Miantinomi, 
their chief sachem, to Boston. The invitation was 
accepted by Miantinomi, and while at Boston, with 
the Governor and Council, entered into a treaty, the 
substance of which w as as follows, viz : That there 
should be a firm peace maintained between the Eng- 
lish and Narragansets, and their posterity : That nei- 
ther party should make peace with the Pequots with- 
out its bein^ first mutuallv assented to :. That the 
Narragansets should not harbor the enemies of the 
English,but deliver up to them such fugitives as should 
resort to them for safety. The English were to give 
them notice when they w ent out against the Pequots, 
and the Narragansets were to furnish guides. 

In February, 1637, the English in Connecticut col- 
ony, represented to the Governor their desire to 
prosecute more effectually the war with the Pequots, 
who yet continued to exercise toward them the most 
wanton acts of barbarity. They represented that on 
the 10th January a boat, containing three of their 
countrymen, was attacked by the enemy, as it was pro- 
ceeding down the river. That the English for some 
time bravely defended themselves, but were at length 
overpowered by numbers. That the Indians, when 
they had succeeded in capturing the boat's crew, rip- 
ped them up from the bottom of their bellies to their 
throats and in like manner split them down their 
backs, and thus mangled, hung them upon trees by the 
river side ! They represented that the affairs of Con- 
necticut colony at this moment wore a most gloomy 



INDIAN WARS. 



29 



aspect: That they had sustained great losses in cattle 
and goods the preceding years, but were still more un- 
fortunate the present: That a most dreadful and in- 
sidious enemy were now seeking an opportunity to 
destroy them: That they could neither hunt, fish or 
cultivate their fields, nor travel at home or abroad, 
but at the peril of their lives: That they were obli- 
ged to keep a constant watch by night and day, to go 
armed to their daily labours and to the houses of pub- 
lic worship ! And although desirous to prosecute the 
war more effectually with the common enemy, they 
were not in a situation to do it, and therefore hum- 
bly prayed for assistance. 

The report of the horrid and unprovoked cruelties 
of the Pequots, practised upon the defenceless inhabi- 
tants of Connecticut colony, roused the other colonies 
to harmonious and spirited exertions against them. 
Massachusetts determined to send 200 and Plymouth 
40 men to assist their unfortunate brethren in prose- 
cuting the war. Capt. Patrick with 40 men was sent 
forward before the other troops, in order that he might 
be enabled seasonably to form a junction With the 
troops in Connecticut who,notwithstanding their weak 
and distressed state had engaged to furnish 90 men. 

On Wednesday, the 10th of May, the Connecticut 
troops proceeded for their fort at Saybrook. They 
consisted of 90 Englishmen, and 70 Mohegan and ri- 
ver Indians ; the latter commanded by Uncus, sachem 
of the LYiohegans, and the former by Capt. John Ma- 
son, who was accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Stone, of 
Hartford, as chaplain. The Mohegans being detach- 
ed from the English, on their way to Saybrook, fell 
in with a considerable body of the enemy, whom they 
attacked and defeated. They killed 22, and took 18 
of them prisoners. 

Among the prisoners there was one who was recog- 
nized as a perfidious villain ; he had lived in the fort 
with the English some time before, and well under- 
stood their language 5 he remained attached to their 
interest until the commencement of hostilities with 
5 



30 



iNDlAN WARS. 



the Pequots, when he deserted the garrison and join- 
ed the enemy, whom he served as guide, and through 
whose instigation many of the English had been cap- 
tured and put to death. Uncus and his men insisted 
upon executing him according to the custom of their 
ancestors, and the English in the circumstances in 
which they then were, did not judge it prudent to in- 
terfere. The Indians enkindled a fire, near which 
they confined the prisoner to a stake, in which situa- 
tion he remained until his skin became parched with 
the heat The Mohegans then violently tore him limb 
from limb, barbarously cutting his flesh in pieces, they 
handed it round from one to another, eating it while 
they sung and danced round the fire in a manner pe- 
culiar to savages ! The bones and such parts of the 
unfortunate captive as were not consumed in this 
dreadful repast, were committed to the fiames and 
consumed to ashes. 

On the 19th, Capt. Mason and his men proceeded 
for Narraganset Bay, at which place they safely ar- 
rived on the 21st. Capt. Mason marched immediate- 
ly to the plantation of Canonicus, a Narraganset sa- 
chem, and acquainted him with his designs, and im- 
mediately after despatched a messenger to Miantino- 
mi, to inform him likewise of the expedition. The 
next day Miantinomi, with his chief counsellors and 
warriors, met the English. Capt. Mason informed 
him that the cause of his entering his country with an 
armed force was to avenge the injuries which the Pe- 
quots had done to the English, and desired a free pas- 
sage to their forts, which they intended to attack. 
After a solemn consultation, in the Indian manner, 
Miantinomi observed that u he highly approved of the 
expedition, and would send men to assist the English, 
but that they were too few in number to fight the ene- 
my ; that the Pequots were great warriors and rather 
slighted the English." 

Capt. Mason landed his men and marched to the 
plantation of Miantinomi, which, by previous agree- 
ment, was to be the place of general rendezvous. I" 



INDIAN WARS. 



31 



the evening an Indian runner arrived with information 
that Captain Patrick, with the men under his com- 
mand, had arrived at the plantation of Roger Wil- 
liams, in Providence, and was desirous that Captain 
Mason should postpone his march until such time as 
he could join him. Capt. Mason, after mature delib- 
eration, determined however not to wait his arrival, 
although a junction was considered important. His 
men had already been detained much longer than was 
agreeable to their wishes, and the Mohegans appa- 
rently were impatient for battle. The little army 
therefore, consisting of 90 Englishmen, 60 Mohegan 
and river Indians, and about 200 Narragansets, com- 
menced their march on the 24th, and in the evening of 
that day reached Nihantick, which bounded on the 
country of the Pequots. Nihantick was the seat of 
a Narraganset sachem, who seemed displeased with 
the expedition, and would not suffer the English to 
enter his fort. Capt. Mason suspecting the treache- 
ry of this fellow, placed a sentinel at night at the en- 
trance of the fort, determined that as he could not be 
permitted to enter, no one should come out to advise 
the enemy of his approach. 

On the morning of the 25th, Capt. Mason was join- 
ed by an additional number of the Narragansets and 
a few of the Nihanticks. They formed a circle, and 
brandishing their scalping knives, made protestations 
how gallantly they would fight, and what numbers 
they would kill, &,c. Captain Mason had now under 
his command near 500 Indians, in addition to his for- 
mer force, with whom he early reassumed his march 
for the head quarters of the enemy The day proved 
uncommonly warm, and the men, through excessive 
heat and want of provisions, were only enabled by 
night to reach Paucatuck river; where the Narra- 
gansets began to manifest great fear, and to inquire 
of Capt. Mason his real design He assured them 
that "it was to attack the Pequots in their fori!' 5 
At which they appeared greatly surprized, and ex- 
hibited a disposition to quit the English and return 
home. 



32 



INDIAN WARS. 



Wequash, a Pequot sachem, who had revolted from 
Sacacus, was the principal guide of the English, and 
he proved faithful. He gave such information re- 
specting the distance of the forts of the enemy from 
each other, and the distance they were then from that 
of the chief sachem's, as induced Captain Mason to 
determine to attack the latter, which his guide repre- 
sented as situated at the head of Mistick river. He 
found his men so much fatigued in marching through 
a pathless wilderness, with their provision, arms and 
ammunition, that this resolution appeared to be abso- 
lutely necessary. The little army accordingly, on the 
morning of the 26th, proceeding directly for Mjstic, 
and at sun-down penetrated a thick swamp, where, 
imagining that they could not be far distant from the 
fort, they pitched their little camp, between two large 
rocks, now known by the name of " Porter's rocks, 59 
situated in Groton. The sentinels, who were con- 
siderably advanced in front of the main body of the 
English, distinctly heard the enemy singing and danc- 
ing through the night at their fort. 

The important day was now approaching when the 
very existence of Connecticut was to be determined 
by the sword in a single action ! And to be decided 
by the valour of less than a hundred brave men, 
About two hours before day, the men were aroused 
from their slumbers by their officers, and after com- 
mending themselves and their cause to the Almighty, 
proceeded with all possible despatch for the enemy's 
fort. When within a few rods of the fort. Captain 
Mason sent for Uncus and Wequash, and desired 
them in their Indian manner to harrangue and pre- 
pare their men for combat. They replied that " their 
men were much afraid, and could not be prevailed 
upon to advance any farther!" "Go then,' 5 said 
Capi. Mason, "and request them not to retire, but to 
surround the fort at any distance they please, and see 
what courage Englishmen can display!" The day 
was now dawning, and no time to be lost. The fort 
was soon in view. The soldiers pressed forward, ani- 



I If D I A N WARS. 



33 



mated with the reflection that it was not for themselves 
alone they were about to fight, but for their parents, 
wives, children and countrymen! As they approached 
the fort within a short distance, they were discovered 
by a Pequot sentinel, who roared out "Owanux!" 
"Owanux! 55 (Englishmen ! Englishmen!) The 
troops pressed on, and as the Indians were rallying, 
poured in upon them the contents of their muskets, and 
instantly hastening to the principal entrance of the 
fort, rushed in, sword in hand f An important moment 
this ! For notwithstanding the blaze and thunder of 
the arms of the English, the Pequots made a manly 
and desperate resistance. Sheltered hy their wig- 
wams, and rallied by their sachems and squaws, they 
defended themselves, and in some instances attacked 
the English with a resolution that would have done 
honour to Romans. After a bloody and desperate 
conflict of near two hours continuance, in which hun- 
dreds of the Indians w ere stain, and many of the En- 
glish killed and wounded,victory still hung in suspense. 
In this critical state of the action, Capt. Mason had 
recourse to a successful expedient. Rushing into a 
wigwam within the fort, he seized a brand of fire, in 
the mean time crying out to his men, < c we must burn 
them !" communicated it to the mats with which the 
wigwams were covered, by which means the whole 
fort was very soon enwrapt in flames ! As the fire 
increased, the English retired and formed a circle 
around the fort. The Mohegans and Narragansets, 
who had remained idle spectators to the bloody con- 
flict, now mustered courage sufficient to form another 
circle in the rear of them. The enemy were now in 
a deplorable situation. Death inevitable w r as their 
portion. Sallying forth from their burning cells, 
they were shot or cut in pieces by the English. Many 
of them, perceiving it impossible to escape the vigi- 
lance of the troops, threw themselves voluntarily into 
the flames ! 

The violence of the flames, the reflection of the 
light, the clashing and roar of arms, the shrieks and 



34 



INDIAN W AR8. 



jells of the savages in the fort, and the shouting of 
the friendly Indians without, exhibited a grand mid 
awful scene ! In less than two hours from the com- 
mencement of the bloody action, the English com- 
pleted their work. Eighty wigwams were burnt, 
and upwards of eight hundred Indians destroyed ! 
Parents and children, the sanup and squaw, the 
aged and the young, perished in promiscuous ruin ! 
The loss of the English was comparatively trifling, 
not exceeding 25 in killed and wounded. 

After the termination of this severe engagement, 
as the English were proceeding to embark on board 
their vessels, which fortunately for them, at this mo- 
ment arrived in the harbour, they were attacked in 
the rear, by about 300 of the enemy, who had been 
despatched from a neighbouring fort to assist their 
brethren. The English gave them so warm a re- 
ception, that they soon gave way, and fell back to the 
field of action, where viewing for a few moments, 
with apparent marks of horror and surprize, the 
shocking scene which it presented, they stamped, bel- 
lowed, and with savage rage tore their hair from 
their heads ! and then with a hideous yell, pursued the 
English, as if with a determination to avenge the 
deaths of their friends, even at the expense of their 
lives. They pursued the English nearly six miles, 
sometimes shooting at a distance, from behind rocks 
and trees, and sometimes pressing hard upon them, 
and hazarding themselves in open field. The English 
killed numbers of them, but sustained ro loss on their 
part. When aPequotfell, the Mohegans would cry 
out, 66 run and fetch his head !" The enemy finding 
at length that they discharged arrows in vain, and 
that the English appeared to be well stocked with 
ammunition, gave over the pursuit. 

In less than three weeks from the time the English 
embarked at Saybrook, they returned, with the ex- 
ception of the few killed and wounded, in safety to 
their respective habitations. Few enterprizes were 
ever perhaps achieved with more personal bravery ; 



INDIAN WARS. 



35 



in few have so great a proportion of the effective men 
of a whole colony, state or nation, been put to so 
great and immediate danger : in few have a people 
been so deeply and immediately interested, as were 
the Englis.i inhabitants of Connecticut at this impor- 
tant crisis. In these respects, even the great arma- 
ments and battles of Europe are comparatively of little 
importance 5 and it ought never to be forgotten, that 
through the bravery and unconquerable resolution of 
less than one hundred men, Connecticut was once sa- 
ved, and the most warlike and terrible tribe of Indians 
in New- England completely exterminated. 

The few Pequots that now remained alive conceiv- 
ing it unsafe to inhabit longer a country so exposed to 
invasion, removed far to the westward 5 among whom 
was Sasacus, their principal sachem. On the 25th 
June tile Connecticut troops, under command of Capt. 
Mason together with a company from Massachusetts, 
commanded by Capt. Stoughton, were sent in pursuit 
of them. They proceeded westward, and on the 27th 
fell in with and attacked and defeated a considerable 
body of them. They took about 50 of them prison- 
ers, among whom were two sachems, whose lives 
wore offered them on condition of their serving as 
guides to the English. 

The English on their march frequently fell in with 
small detached parties of the enemy, whom they cap- 
tured or destroyed, but could not obtain any informa- 
tion relative to the main body commanded by Sasacus. 
Finding that the two sachem prisoners would not give 
them the information required, they, on the 29th, be- 
headed them, at a place called Mcnunkatuck, (now 
Cuilford,) from which circumstance, the place still 
bears the name of '* Sachems' head." The English, 
on the 30th, arrived at Guinnipaik, (now New-Haven) 
where they were informed by a friendly Pequot, that 
the enemy were encamped in a swamp, a few miles to 
the westward.. The troops pushed forward, and on 
the succeeding day, arrived at the border of said 
swamp, which they found a thicket so extremely 



36 



INDIAN WARS. 



boggy as to render it inaccessible to any one but the 
natives. The English, therefore, thought it most ad- 
viseable to surround the swamp, and annoy the enemy 
as opportunity presented. The Indians, after a few 
skirmishes, requested a parley, which being granted 
them, Thomas Stanton, interpreter to the English, 
was sent to treat with them. He was authorised to 
offer life to such as had not shed the blood of En- 
glishmen. Upon which, the sachem of the place, to- 
gether with about 300 of his tribe, came out, and 
producing satisfactory proof of their innocence, were 
permitted to retire; but the Pequots boldly declared 
that " they had both shed and drank the blood of En- 
glishmen, and would not upon such terms accept of 
life, but w ould fight it out ! ?? The English, unwilling 
to brook the threats and insulting language of the Pe- 
quots, attempted now to devise means to attack the 
whole body of them without further delay. The offi- 
cers were, however, divided in opinion as to the mode 
of attack. Some were for setting fire to the swamp, 
others for cutting their way through with hatchets, 
and others for surroundiug it with a high fence or pal- 
lisado. Neither of which plans were, how ever, fully 
adopted. As night approached, the English cut 
through a part of the swamp, by which means its cir- 
cumference was considerably lessened, and they ena- 
bled so completely to surround the enemy as to pre- 
vent their escaping during the night. Early the ensu- 
ing morning, the Indians perceiving themselves com- 
pletely hemmed in by the English, made a violent at- 
tempt to break through their lines ; they were however 
driven back with great loss. They next attempted to 
force the line formed by the Connecticut troops, but 
here they met with a much warmer reception. The 
contest now became close and severe. The Indians, 
who were about 600 in number, appeared determined 
not to yield but at the expense of their lives. One of 
the most resolute of them, walked boldly up to Capt. 
Mason, with an uplifted tomahaw k, and when about to 
give the fatal stroke, received a blow from the latter, 



I^DIAi* WARS. 



who, with his cutlass, severed the head of the savage 
from his body. The enemy soon after made another 
attempt to break through the lines of English, and in 
which, after a violent straggle, they finally succeeded. 
About 60 of their bravest warriors escaped, the re- 
mainder being either killed or taken prisoners. The 
loss of the English was 11 killed and 20 wounded. 

The prisoners taken were divided among the troops, 
some of whom were retained by them as servants, and 
the remainder sent to the West Indies and sold to the 
planters. The prisoners reported that the whole 
tribe of Pequots was now nearly exterminated ; that 
in different engagements there had been upwards of 
2000 of* them killed, and about 1000 captured, among 
whom were 13 sachems ; and that six yet survived, 
one of whom was Sasacus, who had fled with the 
fragment of his tribe to the country bordering on the 
Hudson river, inhabited bv the Mohawks. 

After the swamp fight the Pequots became so weak 
and scattered that the Mohegans and Narragansets 
daily destroyed them, and presented their scalps to 
the English. The few that fled with Sasacus to the 
westward were attacked and totally destroyed by the 
Mohawks. The scalp of Sasacus was in the fall of 
1638 presented to the Governor and Council of Mas- 
sachusetts. 

Soon after the extermination of the Pequots, the 
Narragansets, the most numerous tribe in New-Eng- 
land, being displeased with the small power with 
which they were vested, and the respect which the 
English uniformly manifested for Uncus, appeared 
disposed to break their treaty of friendship. Mianti- 
nomi, without consulting the English according to 
agreement, without proclaiming war, or giving Uncus 
the least information, raised an army of 1000 men and 
marched against him. The spies of Uncus discovered 
the army at some distance and gave him intelligence. 
He was unprepared, but rallying about 500 of his 
bravest men, he told them they must by no means suf- 
fer Miantinomi to enter their town, but must go and 



38 



USIHAN WARS. 



give him battle on his way. The Mohegans having 
marched three or four miles, met the enemy upon an 
extensive plain. When the armies had advanced with- 
in fair bow-shot of each other. Uncus had recourse to 
stratagem, with which he had previously acquainted 
his warriors. He desired a parley, which being grant- 
ed, both armies halted in the face of each other. Un- 
cus gallantly advancing in front of his men, address- 
ed Miantinomi to this effect: " You have a number 
of stout men with you, so have I with me. It is a 
great pity that so many brave warriors should be kill- 
ed in consequence of a misunderstanding between us 
two. Come, like a brave man as you profess to be, 
and let us decide the dispute alone. If you kill me, 
my men shall be yours ; but if I kill you, your men 
shall be mine." "No! (replied Miantinomi) my 
men came to fight, and they shall fight." Upon 
which Uncus falling instantly to the ground, his men 
discharged a shower of arrows among the Narragan- 
sets, and without a moment's interval, rushing upon 
them in the most furious manner, with a hideous yell, 
put them to flight. The Mohegans pursued the ene- 
my with the same fury and eagerness with which 
they commenced the action. The Narragansets were 
driven down rocks and precipices, and chased like a 
doe by the huntsman. Many of them, to escape from 
their pursuers, plunged into a river from rocks of 
near sixty feet in height. Among others Miantinomi 
was hard pushed; some of the most forward of the 
Mohegans coming up with him, twirled him about 
and so impeded his flight, that Uncus, their sachem, 
might alone have the honour of taking him. Uncus, 
who was a man of great bodily strength, rushing for- 
ward like a lion greedy of his prey, seized Miantino- 
mi by the shoulder, and giving the Indian whoop, call- 
ed up his men who were behind, to his assistance. The 
victory was complete. About 50 of the Narragansets 
were killed, and a much greater number wounded and 
taken prisoners. Among the latter was a brother of 
Miantinomi, and two of the sons of Canonicus, whom 



INDIAN WARS. 



39 



Uncus- conducted in triumph to Mohegan. Some few 
days after. Uncus conducted Miantinomi back to the 
spot where he was taken, for the purpose of putting 
hi-n to death. At the instant they arrived on the 
ground, an Indian, who was ordered to march in the 
rear for the purpose, sunk a hatchet into his head, and 
dispatched him at a single stroke ! He was probably 
unacquainted with his fate, and knew not by what 
means he fell. Uncus cut out a large piece of his 
shoulder, which he devoured in savage triumph, de- 
claring in the mean time, that "it was the sweetest 
meat he ever ate; it made his heart strong." The 
Mohegans buried Miantinomi at the place of his exe- 
cution, and erected upon his grave a pillar of stones. 
This memorable event gave the place the name of 
" l Sachem's Plains. 5 ' They are situated in an east- 
ern corner of Norwich. 

The Narragansets became greatly enraged at the 
death of their sachem, and sought means to destroy 
Uncus, whose country they in small parties frequently 
invaded, and by lying in ambush, cut off a number of 
his most valuable warriors. As Uncus was the avow- 
ed friend of the English, and had in many instances 
signalized himself as such, they conceived it their du- 
ty to afford him all the protection possible. They dis- 
patched messengers to acquaint theNarragansets with 
their determination, should they continue to molest 
and disturb the repose of the Mohegans. The mes- 
sengers of the English met with quite an unfavourable 
reception, to w hom one of the Narraganset sachems 
declared, that u he would kill every Englishman and 
Mohegan that came within his reach 5 that whoever 
began the war, he would continue it ; and that nothing 
should satisfy him but the head of Uncus ! 5? 

The English, irritated at the provoking language of 
the Narragansets, now determined not only to protect 
Uncus, but to invade their country with an army of 
300 men 5 first to propose a peace on their own terms, 
but if rejected, to attack and destroy them. For this 



40 



INDIAN WARS. 



purpose Massachusetts was to furnish 190, and Ply- 
mouth and Connecticut colonies 55 men each. 

The Narragansets, learning that an army was about 
to enter the heart of their country, and fearful of the 
issue, despatched several of their principal men to sue 
for peace, on such terms as the English should be 
pleased to grant. The governor and Council de- 
manded that they should restore to Uncus, all the 
captives and canoes which they had taken from him, 
and pledge themselves to maintain perpetual peace 
with the English and their allies ; and to the former, 
pay an annual tribute of 2000 fathom of white w am- 
pum ! These indeed w ere hard terms, against which 
the Narragansets strongly remonstrated; but aware 
that the English had already a considerable force 
collected for the express purpose of invading their 
country, they at length thought it most prudent to 
acquiesce. 

During the war between the Narragansets and 
Uncus, the former once besieged the fort of the 
latter until his provisions were nearly exhausted, and 
he found that his men must soon perish either by 
famine or the tomahawk unless speedily relieved. 
In this crisis he found means of communicating an 
account of his situation to the English scouts, w ho 
had been despatched from the fort in Saybrook to 
reconnoitre the enemy. Uncus represented the dan- 
ger to which the English would be exposed, if the 
Narragansets should succeed in destroying the Mohe- 
gans. It was at this critical juncture that the great- 
est part of the English troops in Connecticut were 
employed on an expedition abroad; a Mr. Thomas 
Leffingwell, however, a bold and enterprising man, 
on learning the situation of Uncus, loaded a canoe 
with provisions, and under cover of the night paddled 
from Saybrook into the river Thames, and had the 
address to get the whole into the fort. The enemy 
soon after discovering that Uncus had received sup- 
plies, raised the siege. For this piece of service 
Uncus presented said Leffingwell with a deed of a 



INDIAN WiU&S. 



41 



very largo tract of land now comprising the whole 
town of Norwich. 

The English in New-England now enjoyed a peace 
until the year 1671, when they again took up arms to 
revenge the death of one of their countrymen, who 
had been inhumanly murdered by an Indian belonging 
fo the Nipnet tribe, of which the celebrated Philip, 
of Mount-Hope (now Bristol, II, L) was sachem. It 
was thought the most prudent step by the Governor 
and Council first to send to Philip, and acquaint him 
with the cause of their resentment, and the course 
which they were determined to pursue, in case he 
refused to deliver into their hands the murderer. 
Philip being accordingly sent for and appearing be- 
fore the court, appeared much dissatisfied with the 
conduct of the accused, assuring them that no pains 
should be spared to bring him to justice ; and more 
fully to confirm his friendship for the English, ex- 
pressed a wish that the declaration which he was about 
publicly to make, might be committed to paper that 
he and his council, might thereunto affix their sig- 
natures. The Governor and Council in compliance 
with the request, drew up the following, which, after 
being signed by Philip and his chief men, was pre- 
sented to the Governor by Philip in conformation of 
his friendly assurances: 

" Whereas my father, my brother, and myself, 
have uniformly submitted to the good and whole- 
some laws of his majesty, the king of England, and 
have ever respected his faithful subjects, the English, 
as our friends and brothers, and being still anxious to 
brighten the chain of friendship between us, we do 
now embrace this opportunity to pledge ourselves 
that we will spare no pains in seeking out and bring- 
ing to justice, such of our tribe as shall hereafter 
commit any outrage against them ! And to remove 
all suspicion, we voluntarily agree to deliver up to 
them all the fire-arms which they have heretofore 
kindly presented us with, until such time as they can 
safely repose confidence in us ; and for the true per- 



42 



INDIAN WARS. 



fonnance of these our sacred promises, we have here- 
unto set our hands. 



Notwithstanding the fair promises of Philip, it was 
soon discovered by the English, that he was playing 
a deep game 5 that he was artfully enticing his red 
brethren throughout the whole of New-England, to 
rise, en masse, against them, and drive them out of 
the country. The Narragansets, for this purpose, had 
engaged to raise 4000 fighting men. The spring of 
1672, was the time agreed upon, on which the grand 
blow was to be given. The evil intentions of Philip, 
were first discovered and communicated to the English 
by a friendly Indian of the Narraganset tribe. For- 
tunately for them, this Indian had been taken into 
favour dy the Rev. Mr. Elliot, by whom he had been 
taught to read and write, and became much attached 
to the English. The Governor, upon receiving the 
important information relative to the hostile views of 
Philip, ordered a military watch to be kept up in all 
the English sett lements within the three colonies 5 by 
some of whom it was soon discovered that the report 
of their Indian friend was too well founded, as the 
Indians of different tribes were daily seen flocking in 
great numbers to the head-quarters of Philip 5 pre- 
viously sending their wives and children to the Nar- 
raganset country, which they had ever done previous 
to the commencement of hostilities. 

The inhabitants of Swanzey, a small settlement ad- 
joing Mount-Hope, the head-quarters of Philip, 
were the first who felt the effects of this war. Philip, 
encouraged by the numbers who were daily enlisting 
under his banners, and despairing of discovering cause 



Chief Sachem. 
Philip's X mark. 



In presence of the 
Governor and Co unci 




Chief men. 
Porkanoket's X mark. 
Un combo's X mark. 
Samkama's X mark. 
Wocokom's X mark. 



INDIAN WARS. 



43 



that could justify him in the commencement of hostil- 
ities against his u friends and brothers," as he had 
termed them, resolved to provoke them to war by 
killing their cattle, firing their barns, &c. This plan 
had its desired effect, as the inhabitants, determined 
to save their property or perish in the attempt, fired 
upon the Indians, which was deemed cause sufficient 
by the latter to commence their bloody work. The 
war whoop was immediately thereupon sounded, when 
the Indians commenced an indiscriminate murder of 
the defenceless inhabitants of Swanzey, sparing not 
the tender infant at the breast; but three of seventy- 
eight persons which the town contained, made their 
escape. Messengers were despatched with the melan- 
choly tidings of this bloody affair, to the Governor, 
who by and with the advice and consent of the council, 
despatched a company of militia with all possible 
speed, to the relief of the distressed inhabitants resid- 
ing near the head-quarters of Philip. As soon as they 
could be raised, three companies were despatched un- 
der the command of Capts. Henchman, Prentice, and 
Church, who arrived in the neighbourhood of Swan- 
zey on the 28th June, where they were joined by 
four more companies from Plymouth colony. It was 
found that the Indians had pillaged and set fire to 
the village, and with their booty had retired to Mount 
Hope. A company of cavalry were sent under the 
command of Captain Prentice, to reconnoitre them ; 
but before they arrived at a convenient place for this 
purpose, they were ambushed and fired upon by the 
enemy, who killed six of their number and wounded 
ten. The report of their guns alarming the remaining 
companies of the English, they hastened to the relief 
of the cavalry, who at this moment were completely 
surrounded by about 600 Indians, between whom and 
the English a warm contest now ensued. The sav- 
ages fought desperately, and more than once nearly 
succeeded in overpow ering the English 5 but very for- 
tunately for the latter, when nearly despairing of vic- 
tory, a fresh company of militia from Boston arrived ; 



44 INDIAN WARS. 

which, flanking the enemy on the right and left, and 
exposing them to two fires, soon overpowered them, 
and caused them to seek shelter in an adjoining wood, 
inaccessible to the English. The English had in this 
severe engagement 42 killed, and 13 wounded, many 
of them mortally. The enemy's loss was supposed to 
be much greater. 

On the 30th Major Savage, who by his excellency 
the Governor had been appointed Commander in Chief 
of the combined English forces, arrived with an ad- 
ditional company of cavalry, who with the remaining 
companies the following day commenced their march 
for Mount Hope, the head-quarters of Philip. On 
their way, the English were affected with a scene 
truly distressing. The savages, not content with 
bathing their tomahawks in the blood of the defence- 
less inhabitants of Swanzey, had, it was discovered, 
in many instances detached their limbs from their 
mangled bodies, and affixed them to poles, which 
were extended in the air! Among which were dis- 
covered the heads of several infant children, the 
whole of which, by order of Major Savage, were 
collected and buried. 

The English arrived at Mount Hope about sun-set ; 
but the enemy receiving information .of their approach, 
had deserted their wigwams and retired into a neigh- 
boring wood. Major Savage, to pursue the enemy 
with success, now divided his men into separate com- 
panies, which he ordered to march in different direc- 
tions, stationing 40 at Mount Hope. On the 4th July, 
the men under the command of Captains Church and 
Henchman fell in with a body of the enemy, to the 
number of 200, whom they attacked ; the English 
being but 32 in number, including officers. Victory 
for a considerable length of time appeared in favour 
of the savages ; but very fortunately for the former, 
being commanded by bold and resolute officers, they 
defended themselves in the most heroic manner, un- 
til relieved by a company of cavalry under the com- 
mand of Captain Prentice. The Indians now in turn 



INDIAN WARS. 



46 



finding the fire of the English too warm for them, Oed 
in every direction, leaving 30 of their number dead, 
and about 60 severely wounded on the field of action. 
The English in this engagement had 7 killed and 32 
wounded, five of whom survived the action but a few 
hours. 

This action, so far from daunting the bold and re- 
solute Capt. Church, seemed to inspire him with ad- 
ditional bravery. Unwilling that any of the enemy 
should escape, he boldly led his men into an almost 
impenetrable forest, into which those who survived 
the action had fled. The Indians perceiving the En- 
glish approaching, concealed themselves from their 
view by laying Hat on their bellies, in which situation 
they remained concealed until the English had advan- 
ced within a few rods of them, when each unperceived 
fixing upon his man discharged a shower of arrows 
among them. This unexpected check threw the Eng- 
lish into confusion, which the Indians perceiving,rush- 
ed furiously upon them with their knives and toma- 
hawks, shouting horribly ! The English, their cavalry 
being unable to afford them assistance, were now in 
a very disagreeable situation, the trees being so very 
large as to render it difficult to use their fire arms 
with any effect, and they were very soon so encom- 
passed by the savages, as to render almost every ef- 
fort to defend themselves useless. Of 64 who entered 
the swamp, but 17 escaped, among whom, very fortu- 
nately, was their valuable leader, Capt. Church. 

The English finding that they could neither bring 
their enemies to action in open field, or engage them 
with any success in the forest in which they were lodg- 
ed, returned home, with the exception of three compa- 
nies, who were stationed by Major Savage, near the 
borders of a swamp, into which it was strongly sus- 
pected that Philip with a number of his tribe had fled. 
This swamp was two miles in length, and to the Eng- 
lish inaccessible. Philip, who had been watching the 
motions of his enemies, perceiving a great part march 
off, conjectured that their object was to obtain a rein- 
7 



46 " INDIAN WARS. 

forcement. Impressed with this belief, he resolved to 
improve the first opportunity to escape with a few cho- 
sen men, by water, which he with little difficulty ef- 
fected the succeeding night, taking advantage of a 
low tide. The enemy w ere, soon after their escape, 
discovered and pursued by the inhabitants of Reho- 
both, accompanied by a partv of the Mohegans, who 
had volunteered their services against Philip. 

The Reheboth militia came up with the rear of 
the enemy about sunset, and killed 12 of them, with- 
out sustaining any loss on their part ; night preventing 
their engaging the whole force of Philip ; but early 
the succeeding morning, they continued the pursuit. 
The Indians had, however, fled with such precipitan- 
cy, that it was found impossible to overtake them. 
They bent their course to the westward, exhorting the 
different tribes through which they passed to take up 
arms against the English. 

The United Colonies became now greatly alarmed 
at the hostile views and rapid strides of Philip. The 
General Court was constantly in sitting, and endeav- 
ouring to plan means to cut him off before he should 
have an opportunity to corrupt the minds of too ma- 
ny of his countrymen. 

While the court was thus employed, information 
was received that Philip had arrived in the neigh- 
borhood of Brookfield, situated about 65 miles from 
Boston, and that a number of its inhabitants had been 
inhumanly butchered by his adherents. Orders 
were immediately thereupon issued for the raising of 
ten companies of foot and horse, to be despatched to 
the relief of the unfortunate inhabitants of Brookfield ; 
but before they could reach that place, Philip and his 
party had entered the town and indiscriminately put 
to death almost every inhabitant which it contained ; 
the few that escaped having taken the precaution, pre- 
vious to the attack, to assemble together in one house, 
which they strongly fortified. This house was furi- 
ously attacked by the savages and several times set 
on fire, and the besieged were on the point of sur- 



INDIAN WARS. 



47 



rendering, when Major Willard happily arrived to 
their relief. Between the English and the Indians, a 
desperate engagement now ensued 5 the former, by 
the express command of their officers, gave no quar- 
ter, but in a very heoric manner rushed upon the sav- 
ages with clubbed muskets. The action continued 
until near sun-set, when the few Indians that remained 
alive sought shelter in the neighbouring woods. In 
this engagement the English had 22 killed and 
72 wounded. The enemy's loss was 211 killed, and 
between 200 and 300 wounded, who by way of retal- 
iation for their barbarity exercised towards the de- 
fenceless inhabitants of Brookfield, were immediately 
put to death. 

The Governor and Council, on learning the fate of 
the unfortunate inhabitants of Brookfield, despatched 
a reinforcement of three companies of cavalry to 
Major Willard, and ordered the like number to be 
sent him from Hartford, in Connecticut colony, with 
winch he was directed to pursue Philip with fire and 
sword, to whatever part of the country he should 
resort. 

It being discovered that a part of Philip's forces 
had fled to Hatfield, two companies of English, under 
the command of Captains Lathrop and Beers, were 
sent in pursuit of them, who within about three miles 
of Hatfield, overtook and attacked them 5 but the 
force of the English being greatly inferior to that of 
the enemy, the former were defeated and driven back 
to tlie main body \ which enabled the enemy, who 
had in the late engagement been detached from their 
main body, to join Philip. On the 13th September 
information was received by Major Willard, that the 
enemy had successfully attacked and defeated the 
troops under the command of Captain Lathrop; that 
they were ambushed and unexpectedly surrounded 
by 1000 of the enemy, to whom they all, except three 
who escaped, fell a sacrifice ! The defeat of Captain 
Lathrop took place in the neighborhood of Deerfield ; 
for the defence of which, there was an English 



AS 



INDIAN WARS. 



rison, which the Indians were about to attack when 
Major Willard happily arrived 5 on the approach of 
whom, the Indians lied. 

On the 10th October following, a party of Philip's 
Indians successfully assaulted the town of Springfield 
which they pillaged and set fire to, killing about 40 
of the inhabitants. On the 14th, they assaulted the 
town of Hatfield, in which two companies, under the 
command of Capts. Mosely and Apleton,were station- 
ed. The enemy continued the attack about two hours, 
when finding the fire of the English too warm for 
them, they fled, leaving a number of their party be- 
hind them dead. 

Philip now 7 finding himself closely pursued by a 
large and formidable body of the English, deemed it 
prudent to bend his course toward his old place of 
residence, there to remain until the ensuing spring. 

But the Commissioners of the United Colonics, 
duly reflecting on the deplorable situation of their 
defenceless brethren throughout the country, aware 
that there were then a much greater number of their 
savage enemies embodied than at any former period, 
who, if suffered peaceably to retire into winter quar- 
ters, might prove too powerful for them the spring 
ensuing, resolved to attack the whole force under 
Philip in their winter encampment 5 for the purpose 
of which every Englishman capable of bearing arms 
wai commanded, by proclamation of the Governor, to 
hold himself in readiness to march at the shortest no- 
tice. The 10th of December was the day appointed 
by the Commissioners on which the decisive blow was 
to be given. Six companies were immediately to be 
raised in Massachusetts, consisting in the whole of 
527 men, to the command of which were appointed 
Captains Mosely, Gardener, Davenport, Oliver, and 
Johnson. Five companies were raised in Connecti- 
cut, consisting of ^50 men, to the command of which 
were appointed Captains Siely, Mason, Gallop, 
Watts, and Marshall ; two companies in Plymouth, 
of 150 men, who were commanded by Captains 



INDIAN WARS. 



49 



Rice and Gorani. Three Majors of the three respec- 
tive divisions, were also appointed, to wit: — Major 
Appleton, of Massachusetts, Major Treat, of Con- 
necticut, and Major Bradford, of Plymouth. The 
whole force, consisting of 1 121 men,were commanded 
by Major General Winslow,date Governor of the 
Colonies. On the 7th December, the combined forces 
commenced their march for the head-quarters of the 
enemy. At this inclement season, it was with the 
utmost difficulty that the, troops were enabled to pen- 
etrate through a wild and pathless wood. On the 
morning of the 9th, having travelled all the preceding 
night, they arrived at the border of an extensive 
swamp, in which they were informed by their guides 
the enemy were encamped to the number of 4000. 
The English, after partaking of a little refreshment, 
formed for battle. Captain Mosely, and Captain 
Davenport, led the van, and Major Appleton and 
Captain Oliver brought up the rear of the Massa- 
chusetts forces. General Winslow, with the Ply- 
mouth troops, formed the centre $ the Connecticut 
troops, under the command of their respective cap- 
tains, together with about 200 of the Mohegans, 
commanded by Oneco, the son of Uncus, brought up 
the rear. 

it was discovered by an Indian sent for that pur- 
pose, that in the centre of the swamp they had built 
a very strong fort, of so wise a construction, that it 
was with difficulty that more than one person could 
enter it at one time. About 10 o'clock, A. M., the 
English, with the sound of the trumpet, entered the 
swamp, and when within about fifty rods of their 
fort, were met and attacked by the enemy. The 
Indians, in their usual manner, shouting and howling- 
like beasts of prey, commenced the attack with sav- 
age fury; but with a hideous noise the English were 
not to be intimidated ; charging them with unequalled 
bravery, the enemy were soon glad to seek shelter 
within the walls of their fort. The English having 
closely pressed upon the enemy, as they retreated, 



so 



INDIAN WARS. 



now in turn found themselves in a very disagreeable 
situation, exposed to the fire of the Indians, who were 
covered by a high breastwork, they were not even 
enabled to act on the defensive. At this critical junc- 
ture the lion-hearted Oneco, with the assent of Gen- 
eral Winslow, offered with the men under his com- 
mand to scale the walls of the fort, which being 
approved of by the English commanders, Oneco, with 
about sixty picked men, in an instant ascended to the 
top of the fort ; where having a fair chance at the 
enemy, they hurled their tomahawks, and discharged 
their arrows with such success among them, as in a 
very short time to throw them into the utmost con- 
fusion. Those who attempted to escape from the 
fort, were instantly cut in pieces by the troops with- 
out. The enemy finding themselves thus hemmed in 
and attacked on all sides, in the most abject term3 ? 
begged for quarter, which was denied them by the 
English. A great proportion of the troops being 
now mounted on the walls of the fort, they had no- 
thing to do but load and fire, the enemy being penned 
up and huddled together in such a manner, that there 
was scarcely a shot lost. This bloody contest was 
of near six hours continuance, when the English, per- 
ceiving the fort filled with nought but dead, or such 
as were mortally wounded of the enemy, closed the 
bloody conflict. 

The scene of action at this instant wes indeed such 
as could not fail to shock the stoutest heart. The 
huge logs, of which the fort was constructed, were 
completely crimsoned with the blood of the enemy, 
while the surrounding woods resounded with the dy- 
ing groans of the wounded. The number of slain of 
the enemy in this severe engagement could not be as- 
certained 5 it was however immense. Of 4000, which 
the fort was supposed to contain at the commence- 
ment of the action, not 200 escaped ! Among whom, 
unfortunately, was the treacherous Philip. 

After the close of this desperate action, the troops, 
having destroyed all in their power, left the enemy's 



INDIAN WARS. 



51 



ground, and carrying about 300 wounded men, march- 
ed back to the distance of sixteen miles to head-quar- 
ters. The night proved cold and stormy, the snow 
fell deep, and it was not until midnight or after that 
the troops were enabled to reach their, place of desti- 
nation. Many of the wounded, who probably other- 
wise might have recovered, perished with the cold and 
inconvenience of a march so fatiguing. 

Although the destruction of so great a number of 
the enemy was considered of the greatest importance 
to the English, yet it proved a conquest dearly 
bought. It was obtained at the expense of the lives 
of a great number of privates, and a great proportion 
of their most valuable officers; among whom were 
Captains Davenport, Gardener, Johnson, Siely, and 
Marshall. 

The courage displayed during the action by every 
part of the army ; the invincible heroism of the offi- 
cers 5 the firmness and resolution of the soldiers, when 
they saw their captains falling before them; and the 
hardships endured before and after the engagement, 
are hardly credible, and rarely find a parallel in an- 
cient, or modern ages. The cold, the day preceding 
the action, was extreme, and in the night of which 
the snow fell so deep as to render it extremely diffi- 
cult for the army to move the day succeeding. Four 
' hundred of the soldiers were so completely frozen as 
to be unfit for duty ! The Connecticut troops were 
the most disabled, having endured a tedious march 
without halting, from Stonington to the place of pub- 
lic rendezvous. They sustained too a much greater 
loss in the action, in proportion to their numbers, than 
the troops of the other colonies. The bold and in- 
trepid Captain Mason, who received a fatal wound 
in the action, of which he died in about three months 
after, was the first after the Mohegans to mount the 
walls of the fort, nor did the troops under his com- 
mand fail to follow the noble example. On enume- 
rating the number of slain and wounded, it was found 
as follows: 



52 



INDIAN WARS. 



Of the Companies commanded by 
Captains Mosely, 10 killed 



Oliver, 




A Q 


C ardener, 


1 1 


Q6) 


j onnson, 


1Q 

lo 


jpn 


jL/avenport, 




I a 


Gallop, 


28 


43 


Siely, 


32 


50 


vv aits, 


1 Q 

ic/ 




Mason, 


40 


50 


Marshall, 


25 


37 


Goram, 


30 


41 


Oneco, 


51 


82 


Total, 


299 


513 



The loss of the troops from Connecticut was so 
great, that Major Treat considered it absolutely ne- 
cessary to return immediately home. Such of the 
wounded as were not able to travel, were put on 
board a vessel, and conveyed to Stonington. The 
troops on their return killed and captured about 30 
of the enemy. 

The Massachusetts and Plymouth forces kept the 
field the greater part of the winter. They ranged 
the country, took a number of prisoners, destroyed 
about 300 wigwams, but achieved nothing brilliant or 
decisive. 

The Nipnet and Narraganset tribes being by the 
late action nearly exterminated, the few who surviv- 
ed, by the direction of Philip, fled in small parties 
to different parts of the country, improving every op- 
portunity that presented to revenge the untimely fate 
of their brethren. On the 10th February, 1678, about 
100 of them surprised the inhabitants of Lancaster, 
(Mass.) a part of whom, as a place of greater safe- 
ty, had the day previous resorted to the dwelling 
of the Rev. Mr. Rowland; this however being con- 
structed of dry logs, was set on fire by the Indians, 
which the unfortunate English within being unable 



INDIAN 



WARS. 



to extinguish, they fell victims to the devouring flames. 
On the 21st, the enemy attacked the inhabitants of 
Medfield; 12 of whom they killed, and the remainder 
made captives. 

On the Sd March, the Indians still continuing their 
depredations, two companies of cavalry, under the 
command of Captain Pierce and Captain Watkins, 
were ordered out for the purpose of affording protec- 
tion to the defenceless inhabitants of towns most ex- 
posed to their incursions. On the 5th, they marched 
to Pautuxet, near where there was a considerable 
body of Indians encamped, whom on the morning of 
the 6th, they fell in with and attacked. The enemy 
at first appeared but few in number ; but these were 
only employed to decoy the English, who on a sud- 
den found themselves surrounded by near 500 In- 
dians, who, with their tomahawks and scalping knives, 
rushing furiously upon them, threatened them with in- 
stant destruction ! The English, now acting on the 
defensive, although surrounded by five times their 
number, fought with their usual spirit, and were re- 
solved to sell their lives at as dear a rate as possible. 
They were very soon, however, compelled to yield to 
the superior force of their savage enemies. Only five 
escaped ! This victory, though of considerable im- 
portance to the savages, cost them a number of their 
bravest warriors, 93 of whom were the succeeding 
day found dead upon the field of action. There were 
in this engagement about 20 friendly Indians with the 
English, who fought like desperadoes. One of them 
observing Captain Pierce unable to stand, in conse- 
quence of the many wounds he had received, for 
nearly two hours bravely defended him. When per- 
ceiving his own imminent danger, and that he could 
afford the Captain no farther assistance, by blacking 
his face as the enemy had done, he escaped unno- 
ticed. 

On the 25th March, a party of Indians attacked 
and burnt the towns of Weymouth and Warwick, 
killing a great number of the inhabitants. On the 
8 



INDIAN WARS. 



10th April following, they pillaged and btirnt Reho* 
both and Providence. 

On the 1st May, a company of English and 150 
Mohegans, under command of C apt. George Denni- 
son, were sent in pursuit of a body of the enemy, 
commanded by a son of Miantinomi. On the 8;h 
May, they met with and attacked them near Groton. 
The Indians, apparently determined on victory or 
death, displayed an unusual degree of courage; but 
the English and Mohegans proved too strong for 
them 5 who, after destroying a greater part with their 
muskets and tomahawks, drove the remainder into a 
neighbouring river, where they soon perished. 

On the 23d, Cononchet, sachem of the few scatter- 
ed remains of the Narragansets, proposed to his coun- 
cil that the lands bordering on Connecticut river, not 
inhabited by the English, should be by them planted 
with corn, for their future subsistence; which being 
approved of by the latter, 200 of the Narragansets 
were despatched for this purpose. The Governor 
being apprized of their intentions, despatched three 
companies of cavalry to intercept them. About 100 
of the Mohegans ? under the command of Oneco, ac- 
companied the English. The enemy were command- 
ed by Cononchet in person, who first proceeded to 
Seekonk, to procure seed corn. It was in the neigh- 
bourhood of this place that they were first met with 
and engaged by the English and Mohegans. The en- 
emy, with becoming bravery, for a long time with- 
stood the attack ; but being but poorly provided with 
weapons, they were at length overpowered and com- 
pelled to yield to the superior power of their enemies, 
in the midst of the action, Cononchet, fearful of the 
issue, deserted his men, and attempted to seek shel- 
ter in a neighbouring wood ; but being recognized by 
the Mohegans, they pursued him. Cononchet, per- 
ceiving himself nearly overtaken by his pursuers- 
to facilitate his flight, first threw away his blanket 
then his silver laced coat, with which he had been 
presented by the English a few weeks previous! but 



65 



Ending that he could not escape from his pursuers by 
flighty he plunged into a river, where he was even fol- 
lowed by half a dozen resolute Mohegans, who laid 
hold of him, forced him under water, and there held 
him until drowned. The loss of the English and 
Mohegans in this engagement was 12 killed and 21 
wounded ; that of the enemy was 43 killed and about 
HO wounded. 

The inhabitants of New London, Norwich, and 
Stoningtou, having frequently discovered a number of 
the enemy lurking about in small bodies in the adja- 
cent woods, by joint agreement voluntarily enlisted 
themselves, to the number of 300, under the command 
of Major Palmer, and Captains Dennisonand Avery^ 
who, with the assistance of the Mohegans and a few 
friendly Narraganseis, in three expeditions destroyed 
nearly 1000 of the enemy.. 

On the 8th June, the Indians assaulted and burnt 
Bridge water j a small settlement in the colony of Mas- 
sachusetts. Forty of its inhabitants fell victims to 
savage barbarity. 

The Governor and Council of Massachusetts colo- 
ny, aware of the danger to which many of the inland 
settlements were exposed, by frequent incursions of 
the enemy, and finding it extremely difficult to raise a 
sufficient force to oppose them in the many parts to 
which the fragments of the broken tribes had resort- 
ed, adopted the policy of sending among them, as 
$pjes, .such Indians as were friendly and could be de- 
pended on ; which plan had its desired effect. These 
Indians representing the force of the English much 
greater than it really was, and warning the enemy of 
danger which did not exist, deterred them from acting 
in many instances on the offensive. One of the friend- 
ly Indians, returning to Boston on the 10th of July, 
reported as follows: "That a large number of In- 
dians were embodied in a wood near Lancaster, which 
village they intended to attack and burn 5g a few 
days ; that they had been encouraged to continue the 
war with the English by Frenchmen from the great 



56 



INDIAN WARS. 



lake, who had supplied them with fire-arms and am- 
munition. 55 

On the receipt of this important information, the 
Governor despatched three companies of cavalry, un- 
der the command of Major Savage, for the defence of 
Lancaster, who unfortunately, by mistaking the road, 
fell into an ambush of about 350 Indians, by whom 
they were instantly surrounded. The English exhib- 
ited great presence of mind, and repelled the attack 
of the enemy in a very heroic manner. The savages 
being however well provided with fire-arms, soon 
gained a complete victory over the English, whose 
loss in this unfortunate engagement was 54! The 
number of killed and wounded of the enemy could 
not be ascertained, as they remained masters of the 
field of action. 

On the 16th, a severe engagement took place be- 
tween a company of English cavalry, and about 300 
of the enemy, near Groton. The latter were not per- 
ceived by the former until they were within a few pa^ 
ces of them, the Indians having concealed themselves 
in the bushes, when suddenly issuing forth with a 
hideous yell, the cavalry were thrown into confusion, 
but instantly forming and charging the enemy with 
great spirit, they fled in every direction. The caval- 
ry, in attempting to pursue them, were once more am- 
bushed. The contest now became close and severe ; 
the Indians having succeeded in decoying the English 
into a thick wood, attacked them with great fury and 
success. The commander of the English being kill- 
ed, every man sought his own safety. Of 95, of 
which the company was composed, but 12 escaped. 
The loss of the enemy was however supposed to be 
much greater. 

On the 12th of August, a party of Indians entered 
the town of Westfield, killed and took several of the 
inhabitants prisoners, and burnt several houses. 
Three of them soon after made their appearance at 
a house near said town, and fired at the man at his 
door, who fell They ran towards him, and one of 



INDIAN WARS. 



57 



them stooping to scalp him, he was saluted by the 
man's wife with a stroke from a large hatchet, which 
went so completely into his body that at three dif- 
ferent efforts she could not disengage it, and the In- 
dian made off with it sticking in him. A second 
Indian also made an attempt, when she by a well di- 
rected stroke with a stick she had got. laid him on 
the ground. The third then run, and the other, as 
soon as he had recovered his feet, followed the ex- 
ample ; on which the woman took her husband in her 
arms and carried him into the house, where he soon 
after recovered. 

On the 17th, a party of Indians commenced an 
attack on Northampton, but there being a number of 
English soldiers therein stationed, the enemy wero 
repulsed. 

On the 20th, a number of the inhabitants of Spring- 
field were attacked by a party of Indians as they 
were returning from divine service, and although 
the former were provided with fire-arms, the enemy 
succeeded in making prisoners of two women and 
several children, whom they soon after tomahawked 
and scalped ; in which situation they were the suc- 
ceeding day found by a party of English sent out in 
pursuit of the enemy. One of the unfortunate women, 
although shockingly mangled, was found still alive, 
and w hen so far recovered as to be enabled to speak, 
gave the following account of the fate of her unfor- 
tunate companions, to wit: That they were first se- 
verally bound with cords; that the Indians soon after 
built a fire, and regaled themselves with what they 
had previously stolen from the English ; that soon 
after, a warm dispute arose between them relativ e 
to the prisoners, each claiming the women for their 
squaws (or wives;) that they at length proceeded 
to blows, and after beating each other for some time 
with clubs, it was agreed by both parties, to pre- 
vent further altercation, that the women should be 
put to death, which they, as she supposed, car- 
ried immediately into execution, The unfortunate 



58 



1AF-DIA-N WARS. 



narrator received a severe blow on the head, which 
brought her senseless to the ground, and while in this 
situation, was scalped and left for dead by her savage 
enemies ! 

The inhabitants of Sudbury, with a company of 
soldiers under the command of Lt. Jacobs, of Marl- 
borough, alarmed at the near approach of the enemy, 
who, to the number of about £00, were encamped 
near that place, resolved to attack them at night ; 
accordingly, on the 6th September, they marched 
within view of them, and at night, as they lay extend- 
ed around a large lire, approached them unperceived 
within gun-shot, when they gave them the contents of 
their muskets. Many of those that remained unhurt, 
being suddenly aroused from their slumbers by the 
yells of their wounded brethren, and imagining that 
they were completely surrounded by the* English, 
whom the darkness of the night prevented their .see- 
ing, threw themselves into the lire which they had en- 
kindled, and there perished. But few if any escap- 
ed. In this attack the English sustained no loss. 

On the 25th, a considerable body of the enemy 
attacked the inhabitants of Marlborough; many of 
whom they killed and set fire to their houses. A 
company of the English, who had been ordered from 
Concord for the defence of this place, were cut off 
by the savages, and totally destroyed. Two other 
companies, despatched from Boston for the like pur- 
pose, met with the same fate. It appeared that the 
Governor, on learning the situation of the unfortunate 
inhabitants of Marlborough, despatched to their relief 
two companies under the command of Gapts. Wads- 
worth and Smith, who, before they arrived at their 
place of destination, were informed that the savages 
had quit Marlborough and proceeded for Sudbury, 
12 miles distant, which induced the English to alter 
their course and proceed immediately for the latter 
place. Of this it appeared that the enemy had been 
apprised by their runners, and had laid a plan to cut 
ik®m offer© th^y should reach Sudbury, which they 



IJfDIAX WARS. 



59 



in the following manner completely effected: Learn- 
ing the course which the English would take, thev, 
within a few rods thereof, stationed 50 or GO of their 
number in an open field, who were ordered to retreat 
into a neighbouring ihicxet as soon as discovered and 
pursued by the English. In this thicket, the remain- 
der of the Indians, to the number of about 300, con- 
cealed themselves by lying prostrate on their bellies. 
The English on their arrival, espying the Indians in 
the field, and presuming them to be but few in num- 
ber, pursued and attacked them, who very soon re- 
treated to the fatal spot where their treacherous breth- 
ren lay concealed, and prepared to give their pursuers 
a warm, if not a fatal, reception. Here they were 
closely pursued by the English, who too late discov- 
ered the fatal snare which had been laid for them. In 
an instant they were completely surrounded and at- 
tacked on all sides by .lie savages. The English 
for several hours bravely defended themselves, but at 
length were borne down by numbers far superior to 
their own. Thus fell the brave Captain Wadsworth, 
and Captain Smith, as well as most of the troops un- 
der their command. 

The Indians bordering on the river Merrimack, 
feeling themselves injured by the encroachments of 
the English, once more resumed the bloody toma- 
hawk, which had been buried for a number of years. 
On the 1st November they, in a considerable body ? 
entered the village of Chelmsford and Wobtirn, and 
taking advantage of their weak state, indiscriminately 
put to death every inhabitant they contained, sparing 
not the. infant at the breast. On the 9th they burnt 
the house of a Mr. Ezra Eames, near Concord, killed 
his wife, threw her body into the flames, and made 
captives of his children. On the 15th they took pris- 
oner a young woman, sixteen years of age, who by 
the family with whom she resided, had been placed 
on a hill in the neighbourhood of their dwelling, to 
watch the motions of the enemy. The account which 
the young woman gave of her capture and escapa was 



60 



INDIAN WA.aS. 



as follows: That "on the morning of her capture, 
the family having been informed that a party of In- 
dians had the day previous been discovered in a 
neighbouring wood, she., by their request, ascended a 
hill near the house, to watch their motions, and alarm 
the family, if seen approaching the house: That about 
noon she discovered a number of them ascending the 
hill, in great haste: That she immediately thereupon 
attempted to evade them by retiring into a thicket : 
but that the Indians', who it appeared had before ob- 
served her, found her after a few moments search, 
and compelled her to accompany them to their settle- 
ment, about 40 miles distant. It was here they gave 
her to understand she must remain and become their 
squaw, and dress and cook their victuals: That she 
remained with them about three weeks ; during which 
time, they made several expeditions against the En- 
glish, and returned with a great number of human 
scalps: That on the night of the 6th December, they 
returned with six horses, which they had stolen from 
the English, which having turned into a small enclo- 
sure, they set out on a new expedition: That she 
viewed this as a favourable opportunity to escape — to 
effect which, she caught and mounted one of the 
horses, and making use of a strip of bark as a bridle, 
she penetrated a wild and pathless wood, and arrived 
at Concord, at seven o'clock the morning succeeding, 
having travelled all the preceding night, to evade the 
pursuit of the enemy ! " In like manner, did one of 
the children of Mr. Eames (of whose capture mention 
is made in the preceding page) escape from the In- 
dians, although but ten years of age, he travelled six- 
ty miles through an uninhabited wood, subsisting on 
acorns ! 

On the 12th December, a party of Indians attack- 
ed and killed several of the inhabitants of Bradford. 
The Governor of Massachusetts colony, for the pro- 
tection of the defenceless inhabitants bordering on 
the Merrimack, ordered the raising and equipping of 
four companies of cavalry, to the command of which 



INDIAN WARS. 



61 



were appointed Captains Sill, Holyoke, Cutler and 
Prentice. 

On the 23d the above troops proceeded for the 
borders of the Merrimack, and on the 26th fell in 
with a considerable body of the enemy whom they 
engaged and completely defeated. On the 4th Jan- 
uary, 1679, Capt. Prentice, detached from the main 
body, feli in with and engaged about 100 of the ene- 
my in the neighbourhood of Amherst, whom he like- 
wise defeated, but with considerable loss on his part. 

On the 6th a son of the brave Capt. Holyoke, of 
Springfield, receiving information that a number of the 
enemy in small bodies were skulking about in the 
woods bordering on that town, with twenty resolute 
young men marched out to attack them. Falling in 
with a considerable body of them, an engagement 
ensued, which though severe, terminated at length in 
favour of the English. The Indians being furnished 
with muskets, were unwilling to give ground, and 
would probably have remained masters of the field of 
action had not the English received a reinforcement 
which put them to flight. The loss of the English in 
the engagement was 5 killed and nine wounded, and 
that of the enemy 23 killed, and between 30 and 40 
wounded. 

The savages were no longer confined to any par- 
ticular tribe or place, but in parties from 50 to 100 
were scattered all over the thinly inhabited parts of 
New-England. A considerable body of them were 
yet in the neighbourhood of Hadley, Deerfield and 
Northampton, where they were continually commit- 
ting their wanton acts of barbarity. Several of the 
towns above mentioned duly reflecting on the danger 
to which they and their families were exposed, formed 
themselves into several companies and made choice of 
their commanders. On the 4th February, receiving 
information that there were near 200 Indians embod- 
ied in a swamp in the neighbourhood of Deerfield, the 
above mentioned force marched to attack them. Ar- 
riving within view of them about day-brealv they dis- 
9 



62 



INDIAN WARS. 



covered them in a profound sleep, stretched out upon 
the ground around their fire. The cavalry immedi- 
ately thereupon dismounted, and after forming them- 
selves, approached them within pistol shot before they 
were discovered by the enemy ; who, being suddenly 
aroused from their slumber, and astonished at the un- 
expected appearance of so many of their enemies, fell 
an easy prey to the English, who without the loss of 
a man, killed 120 of them ; the remainder, as the only 
means of escape, having plunged into a river, where 
probably many of them perished. 

Although the English achieved this action w ithout 
any loss on their part, they were on their return un- 
happily ambushed by about 400 of the enemy. The 
English having expended all their ammunition in the 
late engagement, and being much fatigued, were now 
in turn likely to fall an easy prey to their enemies, 
vho, with their bloody knives and tomahawks, for the 
space of an hour attacked them with the greatest 
success. Not one of the English it is probable would 
have survived this bold and unexpected attack of the 
enemy, had it not been for the presence of mind of 
their brave commander, Capt. Holy ok e, who by a 
stratagem, succeeded in saving a party of them. Capt. 
Holyoke had his horse killed under him, and at one 
time was attacked by five of the enemy, whom he 
beat off with his cutlass. The loss of the English in 
this unfortunate action was 51 killed, and 84 wound- 
ed, many of the latter survived the action but a few 
days. The defeat and destruction of the English in 
this engagement w as much to be lamented, as among 
the slain were the heads of several families, who had 
volunteered their services in defence of their infant 
settlements. 

On the 10th several hundreds of the enemy, en- 
couraged by their late success, appeared before Hat- 
field, and fired several dwelling houses without the 
fortification of the town. The inhabitants of Hadley 
being seasonably apprized of the situation of their 
brethren at Hatfield, a number of them volunteered 



INDIAN WARS. 



63 



their services and inarched to their relief. The In- 
dians, as they were accustomed to do on the approach 
of the English, lay flat on their bellies until the latter 
had advanced within bow-shot, when partly rising, 
they discharged a shower of arrows among them, 
which wounded several of the English ; but they hav- 
ing wisely reserved their fire, now in turn levelled 
their pieces with the best effect, before the savages 
had time to recover their legs, about 30 of whom 
were instantly dispatched and the remainder dispersed* 

On the 15th February the Governor of Massachu- 
setts colony receiving information that the Indians 
were collecting in great numbers under the immediate 
guidance of Philip, near Brookfield, despatched Capt. 
Henchman, with 50 men, to dislodge them 5 who pro- 
ceeding first to Hadley, was joined by a company of 
cavalry from Hartford. On the 20th they discovered 
and attacked a parl y of Indians near Lancaster. They 
killed 50 of them, and took between 50 and 60 of 
their squaws and children prisoners. Capt. Hench* 
man, on his way to Brookfield, discovered the dead 
bodies of several of his countrymen half consumed by 
fire, who it appeared had a few days previously fallen 
victims to the wanton barbarity of the savages. 

The scattered remains of the enemy being now so 
completely harrassed and driven from place to place 
by the English, a number of them resorted to the 
western country,then inhabited by the Mohawks ; but 
the latter being on friendly terms with the English 
and JJutch, who were settling among them, were un- 
willing to harbour their enemies, and consequently at- 
tacked a considerable body of them on the 5th March. 
The engagement was a severe one ; the fugitive In- 
dians being furnished with fire-arms, repelled the at- 
tack of the Mohawks with a becoming spirit, but were 
at length overpowered and completely defeated. The 
loss on both sides was very great. 

On the 20th the Indians took a Mr. Willet prison- 
er, near Swanzey, and after cutting off his nose and 
ears, set him at liberty ! On the 22d a negro man 



64, 



INDIAN WARS. 



who had been for several months a prisoner among 
the savages, escaped from them and returned to the 
Knglish, to whom he gave the following information, 
to wit: That the enemy were concerting a plan to at- 
tack Taunton, and the villages adjacent: That for 
this purpose there were then embodied near Worces- 
ter 1000 of them, at the head of whom was Philip ; 
and near one hundred of them were furnished with 
fire-arms: That a few days previous to his escape, a 
scouting party arrived and brought in with them two 
prisoners of war and three human scalps! To frustrate 
the intention of the enemy, the Governor of Massa- 
chusetts colony despatched three companies of cav- 
alry for the defence of Taunton. 

The English of Connecticut colony, although but 
little troubled with the enemy since the destruction of 
the Pequots, were not unwilling to afford their breth- 
ren all the assistance possible in a protracted and 
bloody war with the common enemy. They accord- 
ingly furnished three companies of cavalry, who under 
the command of the experienced Major Talcott, on 
the 5th April proceeded to the westward in search of 
the enemy. On the 11th they fell in with, attacked 
and defeated a considerable body of them. Apparent- 
ly by the special direction of Divine Providence, Ma- 
jor Talcott arrived in the neighbourhood of Hadley in 
time to preserve the town, and save its inhabitants 
from total destruction ! The savages to the number 
of 500^ were on the eve of commencing an attack when 
they were met by the Major, with the troops under 
his command. This unexpected relief animating the 
few inhabitants which the town contained, they hast- 
ened to the assistance of the cavalry, who at this mo- 
ment were seriously engaged with the whole body of 
the enemy. The savages having gained some signal 
advantages, victory for a considerable length of time 
appeared likely to decide in their favour. Fortunately, 
the inhabitants of Hadley having for their defence a 
few weeks previous procured from Boston an eight 
pounder, H was at this critical period loaded by the 



INDIAN WARS. 



65 



women, and being mounted., was by them conveyed to 
the English, which, being charged with small shot, 
nails, &c. was by the latter discharged with the best 
effect upon the enemy, who immediately thereupon 
fled in every direction. Thus it was that the English 
in a great measure owed the preservation of their 
lives to the unexampled heroism of a few women. 

The Governor and Council of the United Colonies, 
taking under serious consideration the miraculous es- 
cape of the inhabitants of Hadley from total destruc- 
tion, and the recent success of the arms of the English 
in various parts of the country, appointed the 27th 
day of August, 1679, to be observed throughout the 
Colonies as a day of public Thanksgiving and Praise 
to Almighty God. This, it may be well to observe, 
was the commencement of an annual custom of our 
forefathers, which to the present day is so religiously 
observed by their descendants throughout the New- 
England States. 

On the 3d September, the Connecticut troops under 
command of Major Talcott, and Captains Dennison 
and Newbury, proceeded to Narraganset in quest of 
the enemy, who to the number of about 800 had been 
discovered in a piece of woods. The English were 
accompanied by their faithful friend Oneco, with 100 
Mohegans under his command. In the evening of the 
5th they discovered the savages encamped at the 
foot of a steep hill, on which Major Talcott made ar- 
rangements for an attack. The Mohegans were or- 
dered by a circuitous route to gain the summit of the 
hill to prevent the flight of the enemy. Two compa- 
nies of cavalry were ordered to flank them on the 
right and left, w hile Major Talcott, with a company of 
foot stationed himself in their rear. Having thus dis- 
posed of his forces, a signal was given by the Major 
for the Mohegans to commence the attack, which they 
did, and with such spirit, accompanied by their savage 
yells, that had the enemy been renowned for their 
valour, they must have been to the highest degree ap- 



66 



INDIAN WAftS. 



palled at so unexpected an onset ! After contending 
a few moments with the Mohegans, the enemy were 
attacked on the right and left by the cavalry, who 
with their cutlasses made great havoc among them ; 
they were, however, unwilling to give ground until 
they had lost nearly one half their number, when 
they attempted a flight to a swamp in their rear; but 
here they were met by Major Talcott, with the com- 
pany of foot, who gave them so warm a reception 
that they once more fell back upon the Mohegans, 
by whom they were very soon overpowered and would 
have been totally destroyed had not Major Talcott hu- 
manely interfered in their behalf, and made prisoners 
of the few that remained alive. Among the latter 
was their leader, a squaw, commonly termed the 
queen of Narraganset 5 and among them an active 
young fellow who begged to be delivered into the 
hands of the Mohegans, that they might put him to 
death in their own way, and sacrifice him to their 
cruel genius of revenge, in which they so much de- 
lighted ! The English, although naturally averse to 
acts of savage barbarity, were not in this instance 
unwilling to comply with the unnatural request of 
the prisoner, as it appeared that he had in the presence 
of the Mohegans exultingly boasted of having killed 
19 English with his gun, since the commencement of 
the war, and after loading it for the 20th (there being 
no more of the latter within reach) he levelled at 
a Mohegan, whom he killed, which completing his 
number, he was willing to die by their hands. The 
Mohegans accordingly began to prepare for the trag- 
ical event. Forming themselves into a circle, admit- 
ting as many of theEnglish as were disposed to witness 
their savage proceedings, the prisoner was placed in 
the centre; when one of the Mohegans, who in the 
late engagement had lost a son, with a knife cut 
off the prisoner's ears ! then his nose ! and then the 
fingers of each hand ! and after the relapse of a few 
moments, dug out his eyes and filled their sockets with 
hot embers ! Although the few English present were 



INDIAN WARS. 



67 



overcome wiih a view of a scene so shocking to hu- 
manity, yet the prisoner, so far from bewailing his 
late, seemed to surpass his tormentors in expressions 
of joy ! When nearly exhausted with the loss of 
blood, and unable to stand, his executioner closed 
the tragic scene by beating out his brains with a 
tomahawk ! 

The few Indians that now remained in the neigh- 
borhood of Plymouth colony, being in a state of star- 
vation, they surrendered themselves prisoners to the 
English; one of whom being recognized as the per- 
son who had a few days previous inhumanly murdered 
the daughter of a Mr. Clarke, was by order of the 
Governor publicly executed. The remainder were 
retained and treated as prisoners of war. By the 
assistance of one of the prisoners who served as a 
guide, twenty more of the enemy were on the suc- 
ceeding day surprized and taken prisoners by the 
English. 

The troops under the command of Major Bradford, 
and Captains Mo^ely and Brattle, on the 15th Sep- 
ternber,surprized and took 150 of the enemy prisoners 
near Pautuxet, among whom was the squaw of the 
celebrated Philip 5 and on the day succeeding, learn- 
ing that the enemy in considerable bodies were rov- 
ing about in the woods near Dedham, Major Brad- 
ford despatched Capt. Brattle with 50 men to attack 
them 5 who, the day following, fell in with and en- 
gaged about 100 of them. As hatchets were the 
only weapons with which they were provided, they 
made but a feeble defence, and were soon overpow- 
ered by the English, who took 74 of them prisoners, 
the remainder having fallen in the action. The above 
party was commanded by a blood-thirsty sachem, 
called Pomham, renowned for his bodily strength 
which exceeded that of any of his countrymen ever 
met with. He bravely defended himself to the last; 
being wounded in the breast, and unable to stand, he 
seized one of the soldiers while in the act of des- 
patching him with the butt of his gun, and by whom 



68 INDIAN WARS. 

he would have been strangled, had he not been for- 
tunately rescued by one of his comrades. 

A general famine now prevailed among the ene- 
my, in consequence of being deprived of an opportu- 
nity to plant their lands ; numbers were daily com- 
pelled by hunger to surrender themselves prisoners 
to the English ; among whom was a JNipnet sachem, 
accompanied by 180 of his tribe. 

On the 12th October Capt. Church, with fifty sol- 
diers and a few friendly Indians under his command, 
attacked and defeated a party of the enemy near 
Providence : and on the day following, conducted by 
Indian guides, discovered a considerable body of the 
enemy encamped in a swamp near Pomfret. A 
friendly Indian at first espying them, commanded 
them to surrender ; but the enemy did not appear dis- 
posed to obey. Being sheltered by large trees, they 
first discharged their arrows among the English, and 
then with a terrible yell attacked them with their 
long knives and tomahawks. The English meeting 
with a much warmer reception than what they ex- 
pected, gave ground, but being rallied by their old 
and experienced commander, Capt. Church, they 
rushed upon them with such impetuosity that the ene- 
my were thrown into confusion and dislodged from 
their coverts. The English had 7 men killed and 14 
wounded; among the latter was their brave com- 
mander, who received an arrow through his left arm. 
The loss of the enemy was 32 killed, and between 60 
and 70 wounded. 

On the 20th information was forwarded to the Go- 
vernor and Council, that the famous Philip, who had 
been for a long time skulking about in the woods 
near Mount Hope, much disheartened by the ill suc- 
cess of his countrymen, was the morning preceding 
discovered in a swamp near that place, attended by 
about 90 Seaconet Indians ; on which the brave Cap- 
tain Church, with his little band of invincibles, were 
immediately despatched in pursuit of him. Captain 
Church was accompanied as usual by a number of 



KING PHILIP. 



HTDIAN WARS. 



69 



Mohegans, and a few friendly Seaconet Indians. On 
the 27th they arrived in the neighbourhood of the. 
swamp, near the border of which he stationed several 
of the Mohegans, and a few friendly Seaconet In- 
dians to intercept Philip in case he should attempt an 
escape therefrom. Capt. Church at the head of 
his little band, now with unconquerable resolution 
plunged into the swamp, and wading nearly to his 
waist in water, discovered and attacked the enemy. 
The Indians were nearly 100 strong, but being unex- 
pectedly attacked they made no resistance but fled 
in every direction. The inaccessible state of the 
swamp, however, prevented the English from pursu- 
ing them with success. Their dependance was now 
upon their friends stationed without. Nor did it 
appear that those faithful fellows suffered eo good 
an opportunity to pass unimproved. The reports of 
their muskets convinced Capt. Church they were 
doing their duty $ in confirmation of which, he was 
very soon after presented with the head of Kikg 
Philip. 

Philip, it appeared, in attempting to fly from his 
pursuers, was recognized by one of the English, who 
had been stationed with the Mohegans to intercept 
him, and at whom he levelled his piece, but the 
priming being unfortunately wet and preventing the 
discharge thereof, the c mining sachem would yet 
have escaped had not one of the brave sons of Uncus, 
at this instant, given him the contents of his musket ! 
The ball went directly through his heart ! Thus 
fell by the hands of a faithful Mohegan, the famous 
Philip ; who was the projector and instigator of a 
war, which not only proved the cause of his own 
destruction, but that of nearly all his tribe, once the 
most numerous of any inhabiting New-England. 

It was at this important instant that the English 
were made witnesses of a remarkable instance of 
savage custom. Oneco, on learning that Philip had 
fallen by the hand of one of his tribe, urged that 
agreeably to their custom, he had an undoubted 
10 



INDIAN WARS. 



right to the body, and a right to feast himself with a 
piece thereof! Which the English not objecting to, 
he deliberately drew his long knife from his girdle, 
and with it detached a piece of flesh from the bleed- 
ing body of Philip, of about one pound w eight, which 
he broiled and ate; in the mean time declaring that 
u he had not for many moons eaten any thing with so 
good an appetite !" The head of Philip was sev- 
ered from his body, and sent, by Capt. Church, to 
Boston, to be presented to the Governor and Council, 
as a valuable trophy. 

The few hostile Indians that now remained with- 
in the United Colonies, conscious that if so fortunate 
as to evade the vigilance of the English, they must 
soon fall victims to the prevailing famine, fled with 
their families far to the westward. The English 
were disposed rather to facilitate than prevent their 
flight. Having been for a number of years engaged 
in a destructive and bloody war with them, they 
were willing that the few that remained alive should 
escape to a country so far distant that there was no 
probability of their returning to reassume the bloody 
tomahawk. Impressed with these ideas, and that 
the enemy was completely exterminated, they were 
about to bury the hatchet, and turn their attention to 
agricultural pursuits 5 when, by an express, they 
were informed that the natives in the eastern part 
of the country (Province of Maine) had unprovokedly 
attacked and killed a considerable number of the 
English in that quarter. 

To quench the flame which appeared to be enkin- 
dling in the east, the Governor despatched four com- 
panies of cavalry to the relief of the unfortunate 
inhabitants. The enemy, who were of the Kenne- 
beck and Amoscoggin tribes, first attacked with 
unprecedented fury the defenceless inhabitants settled 
on Kennebeck river, the most of whom were de- 
stroyed or dispersed by them. 

On the 2d November about 700 of the enemy 
attacked, with their accustomed fury, (accompanied 



INDIAN WARS. 



71 



by their savage je\h) the inhabitants of Newche- 
wannick, an English settlement situated a few miles 
from the mouth of the river Kennebeck. Before they 
had fully accomplished their hellish purpose, they 
were surprized by the troops sent from Boston, be- 
tween whom a. most bloody engagement now ensued. 
The Indians encouraged by their numbers, repelled 
the attack of the English in so heroic a manner, that 
the latter were very soon thrown into disorder and 
driven out of town, where they again formed, faced 
about, and in torn charged the enemy with uncon- 
querable resolution ! The contest now became close 
and severe. The ravages with their terrific yells 
dexterously hurled their tomahawks among the 
English, while the latter, with as much dexterity, 
attacked and mowed them down with their cutlasses ! 
Each were apparently determined on victory or 
death ! The English, at o:ie moment, unable to with- 
stand the impetuosity of the savages, would give 
ground ; at the next, the latter, hard pushed by the 
cavalry, would fall back. Thus, for the space of two 
hours, did victory appear balancing between the two 
contending parties. The field of action was covered 
with the slain, while he adjacent woods resounded 
with the shrieks and groans of the wounded. At 
this critical juncture the English, when on the very 
point of surrendering, were providentially preserved 
by a stratagem. In the heat of the action Major 
Bradford despatched a company of cavalry by a cir- 
cuitous route to attack the enemy in the rear, which 
had the most happy effect. The enemy suspecting 
this company a reinforcement of the English, fled in 
every direction, leaving the English masters of the 
field. Thus, after two hours hard fighting, did the 
English obtain a victory at the expense of the lives 
of more than half their number ! Their killed and 
wounded amounted to 99 ! The loss of the enemy 
was not ascertained ; it was however probably three 
times greater than that of the English. 



12 



INDIAN WARS. 



The day succeeding this bloody engagement, a 
lieutenant, with 12 men, was sent by the commander to 
the place of action to bury the dead. When they 
were a few rods therefrom they were suddenly attack- 
ed by about 100 of the enemy who had lain in am- 
bush. The lieutenant ordered his men to reserve 
their fire until they could discharge with the best 
effect upon the enemy, by whom they were soon 
surrounded and furiously attacked on all sides. The 
savages yelling horribly, brandishing their long knives 
in the air, yet crimsoned with the blood of their 
countrymen. The brave little band, however, re- 
mained firm and undaunted, and as the savages ap- 
proached them, each taking proper aim, discharged 
with so good effect upon them, that the Indians, 
amazed at the instantaneous destruction of so many of 
their comrades, fled in eyery direction. The English 
sustained no loss. 

On the 5th the enemy successfully attacked the 
inhabitants of the villages of Casco; 30 of whom 
they killed, and made prisoners the family of a Mr. 
Bracket, who on the 7th made their escape in the 
following manner; The Indians, on their return to 
their wigwams, learning that a detached party of their 
brethren had attacked with success and plundered 
the village of Arowsick, to enjoy a share of the spoil 
hastened to join them, leaving the prisoners in the 
care of two old men and three squaws. Mr. Brack- 
et, whose family consisted of himself, wife, three 
small children and a negro lad, viewed this a favour- 
able opportunity to escape ; to effect which he re- 
quested the lad to attempt and escape by flight, who 
being uncommonly active he easily effected. The 
plan of Mr. Bracket had now its desired effect ; as 
the old men, pursuing the negro, left him and his 
family guarded only by three squaws, whom (being 
intoxicated) he soon despatched, and returned the 
day following with his family to Casco, where the ne- 
gro lad had arrived some hours before. 



mm aw wars. 



73 



On Iho 1 5; h the Indians attacked the dwelling 
houses of a Captain Bonithon and Major Phillips, 
situated on the east side of Casco river. Having 
seasonable notice of the hostile views of the enemy, 
the family of the former, as a place of greater safety, 
had resorted to the house of the latter a few moments 
previous to the attack. The savages first communi- 
cated fire to the house of Captain Bonithon; next 
proceeded furiously to attack the dwelling of Major 
Phillips, in which there were about twenty persons, 
by whom it was most gallantly defended. The ene- 
my had their leader and a number of their party killed 
by the fire of the English. Despairing of taking the 
house by assault, they adopted a new plan of com- 
municating fire thereto. They procured a carriage 
on which they erected a stage, in front of which was 
a barricade rendered bullet proof, to which long poles 
were attached nearly 20 feet in length, and to the 
ends were affixed every kind of combustible, such as 
birch rinds, straw, pitch pine, &,c. The Indians 
were sheltered by the barricade from the fire of the 
English, while they approached the walls of the 
house with their carriage. The English were now 
on the eve of despairing, when fortunately one of 
the wheels of the carriage, being brought in contact 
with a rock, was turned completely round, which 
exposed the whole body of Indians to their fire ! 
This unexpected opportunity was improved with the 
greatest advantage by the English, who with a few 
rounds soon dispersed the enemy with no inconside- 
rable loss. 

The day following the Indians set fire to the house 
of a Mr. Wakely, whom with his whole family they 
murdered. A company of English, apprized of their 
dangerous situation, marched to their relief, but ar- 
rived too late to afford them assistance. They found 
the house reduced to ashes ; among which they found 
the mangled bodies of the unfortunate family half 
consumed by fire. 



74 



INDIAN WARS. 



The savages, emboldened by their late success, on 
the 20th attacked a small settlement on the Piscata- 
qua river, and succeeded in murdering a part, and 
carrying away the remainder of the inhabitants into 
captivity. As an instance of their wanton barbarity, 
it should be here mentioned, that after tomahawking 
and scalping one of the unfortunate women of the 
above place, they bound to the dead body her little 
infant; in which situation it was the succeeding day 
discovered by the English, attempting to draw nour- 
ishment from its mother's breast. 

The Governor and Council of the United Colonies, 
conceiving it their duty if possible to put a final stop 
to the ravages of the enemy in the east, and to pre- 
vent the further effusion of innocent blood, despatch- 
ed Major Waliis and Major Bradford, with six com- 
panies under their command, to destroy, " root and 
l?ranch," the common enemy. On the 1 st December 
they arrived in the neighbourhood of Kennebeck, 
near where they were informed the main body of the 
enemy were encamped. On the morning of the 3d, 
about the break of day, they fell in with and attack- 
ed them. The enemy, who were about SCO strong, 
appeared disposed to maintain their ground. They 
fought with all the fury of savages, and even assailed 
the English from the tops of lofty trees, which they 
ascended for the purpose. They were possessed of 
but few fir Or arms, but hurled their tomahawks with 
inconceivable exactness, and checked the progress of 
the cavalry with long spears. Victory for a long time 
remained doubtful. The ground being covered with 
sjiow, greatly retarded the progress of the troops, 
who probably would have met with defeat had not 
a fresh company of infantry arrived in time to change 
the fortune of the day. These, having remained in- 
active as a body of reserve, the commander found 
himself under the necessity of calling to his aid. The 
enemy, disheartened at the unexpected arrival of the 
English, fled with precipitancy to the woods ; but 
very few of them, however, escaped ; more than 200 



LNDIAN WARS. 



75 



of whom remained dead on the field of action, and 
double that number wer mortally wounded! The 
loss of the English was 55 killed and 97 wounded! 
This engagement, which proved a decisive one, was 
of the greatest importance to the English. The great 
and arduous work was now completed. The few re- 
maining Indians that inhabited the eastern country 
now expressed a desire to bur\ the bloody hatchet, ami 
to make peace with the English. Their request was 
cheerfully complied with, and they continued ever 
after the faithful friends of the English. 



CHAPTER IV. 

INVASION OF NEW-YORK AND N£ W-E N G L A N D, AND 
THE DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADST BIT THB 
FREiNC H AND INDIANS. 

In the year 1690 the Mohawks, having made sev- 
eral successful expeditions against the Canadians, the 
Count Frontenac, to raise the depressed spirits of the 
latter, despatched several parties of French and In- 
dians to attack the frontier settlements of New-York 
and New- England. A detachment of nearly 590 
French and Indians under the command of Monsieurs 
P. Aillebout, Dq Waulet and Le Wayne, were des- 
patched from Montreal for this purpose. They were 
furnished with every thing necessary for a winter's 
campaign. After a march of twenty-two days, they, 
on the 8th February, reached Schenectady. They 
had on their march been so reduced, as to harbor 
thoughts of surrendering themselves prisoners of war 
to the English ; but their spies (who had been for 
several days in the village, entirely unsuspected) rep- 
resenting in so strong terms the defenceless state of 
the inhabitants, as determined them to make an im- 



76 



FftDlAH WARS. 



mediate attack. They found the gates open and un- 
guarded. They entered them about eleven o'clock 
at night, and the better to effect their hellish pur- 
pose, divided their main body into several distinct 
parties of six or seven men each I The inhabitants 
were in a profound sleep, and unalarmed until the 
enemy had broken open their doors and with uplift- 
ed tomahawks were surrounding their beds ! Before 
they had time to rise, the savages began the perpetra- 
tion of the most inhuman barbarities ! No language 
can express the cruelties which were committed ! In 
less than one hour, two hundred of the unfortunate 
inhabitants were slain and the whole village enwrapt 
in flames ! A detail of the cruelties committed by the 
barbarians, cannot be read without horror. They 
ravished, rifled, murdered and mutilated the inhabi- 
tants, without distinction of age or sex, w ithout any 
Other provocation or excitement than brutal lust and 
wantonness of barbarity ! Pregnant women were rip- 
ped open and their infants cast into the flames or 
dashed against the posts of the doors ! ! Such mon- 
sters of barbarity ought certainly to be excluded 
from all the privileges of human nature, and hunted 
down as wild beasts, without pity or cessation. A 
very few of the inhabitants escaped, who in their 
shirts (in a severe and stormy night) fled to Albany. 
Twenty-five of the fugitives in their flight perished 
with cold. The enemy, after destroying the inhabi- 
tants, killed all the horses and cattle which they could 
find, with the exception of about thirty of the for- 
mer, which they loaded with their plunder and drove 
off. 

When the news of the horrid massacre reached 
Albany, an universal fear and consternation seized the 
inhabitants. The country became panic struck ; and 
many entertained thoughts of destroying the town 
and abandoning that part of the country to the en- 
emy. 

A second party of the enemy which Count Fron- 
tenac had detached from the main body at the 



INDIAN WARS. 



77 



three rivers, under the command of Sieur Hartef, 
an officer of distinguished character ill Canada, on 
the ISth February fell upon Salmon Falls (a plan- 
tation on the river which divides New- Hampshire 
from the province of Maine.) This party consisted 
of about 70 men 5 more than half of whom were In- 
dians. They commenced the attack at break of day, 
in three different places 5 and although the inhabi- 
tants were surprised, yet they fled to their arms 
and defended themselves with bravery which even 
their enemies applauded 5 but they were finally over- 
powered by numbers, and forty-three of them, men, 
women and children, fell victims to savage barbari- 
ty. The depredations of the French and Indians fill* 
ed the inhabitants of the western country with fear 
and alarm. The Assembly of New- York conceived 
it necessary to make every exertion to prevent the 
settlement of the French at Albany. It was resolved 
that two companies of 100 men each should be rais- 
ed and sent forward for that purpose. For the de- 
fence of the frontier towns in New-England, it was 
ordered that a constant watch should be kept in the 
several towns, and that all males, above 18 and un- 
der 60 years of age, should be held in readiness to 
march at the shortest notice, On the 20th March, 
at a proposed meeting of Commissioners from New- 
York and New- England, a plan was proposed and 
adopted for invading Canada. Eight hundred men 
were ordered to be raised for the purpose-; the quo- 
tas of several colonies were faxed, and general rules 
adopted for the management of the army. 

A small vessel was sent express to England the 
beginning of April, carrying a representation of the 
exposed state of the colonies and the necessity of 
the reduction of Canada. A petition was also for- 
warded to his majesty for a supply of arms and am- 
munition, and a number of frigates to attack the en- 
emy by water, while the colonial troops made an in- 
vasion by land. John Winthrop, Esq. was appointed 
major-general and commander in chief of the land 
11 



78 



FNDIAN WARS. 



army, and arrived with the troops under his com- 
mand near the falls at the head of Wood Creek, 
early in the month of August. 

When the army arrived at the place appointed 
for the rendezvous of the Indians from the Five Na- 
tions, (who had engaged to assist the English;) in- 
stead of meeting with that powerful hody which 
they expected, and which the Indians had promis- 
ed, there were no more than 70 warriors from the 
Mohawks and Oneidas ! When the General had 
advanced about 100 miles, he found that there were 
not canoes sufficient to transport one half the En- 
glish across the lake. Upon representing to the In- 
dians the impossibility of the army's crossing into 
Canada without a much greater number of canoes, 
they replied that it was then too late in the season 
to make canoes, as the bark would not peel. In short, 
they artfully evaded every proposal, and finally told 
the general and his officers that they looked too high 
and advised them only to attack Chambly, and the 
out settlements on this side of St. Lawrence. Thus 
did these Indians, who a few years before, had so 
harrassed all the French and Indians in Canada, 
exhibit the greatest proofs of cowardice ! The Eng- 
lish finding it impossible to cross the lake with ad- 
vantage, returned to Albany. Thus the expedition 
unfortunately failed. 

In the year 1693 Count Frontenac, finding that he 
could not accomplish a peace with the Mohawks, 
who of all the Indians had been by far the most de- 
structive to the settlements in Canada, determined 
on their destruction. He collected an army of about 
700 French and Indians, and having supplied them 
with every thing necessary for a winter campaign, 
sent them against the Mohawk castles. They com- 
menced their march from Montreal on the 15th 
January, 1693. After enduring incredible hardships 
they fell in with the first castle about the 10th Feb- 
ruary. The Mohawks, unprepared for an attack, had 
not any idea of the approach of the Canadians. 



INDIAN WARS. 



79 



The enemy killed and captured about 50 of the Mo- 
hawks at this castle and then proceeded for the sec- 
ond, at which they were equally successful. A great 
part of the Mohawks were at Schenectady, and the 
remainder perfectly secure. When they arrived at 
the 3d castle they found about eighty warriors collect- 
ed at a war-dance, as they designed the next day to 
go upon an enterprise against their enemies. A 
conflict ensued, in which the Canadians, after losing 
about 30 men, were victorious, and the third castle 
was taken. The Canadians in their descent took near 
three hundred prisoners, principally women and chil- 
dren. The brave Colonel Schuyler of Albany, (re- 
ceived information of the approach of the enemy,) 
at the head of a party of the volunteers of about 400 
English and Dutch, pursued them. On the 25th Feb- 
ruary he was joined by about 300 Indians, whom he 
found lodged in a fortified camp. The Canadians 
made three successful sallies upon the colonel, and 
were as often repulsed ; he kept his ground, waiting 
for provisions and a reinforcement from Albany. The 
enemy at length taking the advantage of a violent 
snow-storm, escaped and marched to Canada. The 
day following Capt. Sims, with a reinforcement and 
a supply of provisions, arrived from Albany, ancl the 
day succeeding the colonel reassumed the pursuit; but 
the Canadians luckily finding a cake of ice across the 
north branch of Hudson river, made their escape, they 
were, however, so closely pursued by the English and 
Dutch,that they could not prevent the escape of most 
of their prisoners, who all, with the exception of nine 
or ten, returned in safety to their country. Colonel 
Schuyler lost 12 of his party, and had 19 wounded. 
According to the report of the captives, the enemy 
lost 50 men, five of whom were French officers, and 
two Indian guides, and had about 70 wounded, The 
Mohawks on their return found about 40 dead bodies 
of the enemy, which they scalped and devoured : in- 
deed so great was their hunger. 



80 



INDIAN WARS. 



CHAPTER V. 



Massacre of the Inhabitants of Deerfieldj and 
Captivity of the rev. john Williams and 
family by the savages. 

On the 29th February, 1703, a large body of In? 
dians from the frontiers assaulted the town of Deer- 
field. They entered the town about midnight, and 
commenced an indiscriminate butchery of the de- 
fenceless inhabitants. Among others, they attacked 
the house of Rev. Mr. Williams, pastor of the par- 
ish. The following are the particulars of the melan- 
choly transaction, as related by Mr. Williams. 

66 They came to my house in the beginning of the 
onset, and by their violent endeavours to break open 
doors and windows, with axes and hatchets, awaked 
me out of sleep ; on which I leaped out of bed, and 
running towards the door, perceived the enemy mak- 
ing their entrance into the house. I called to awaken 
two soldiers, in the chamber ; and returned towards 
my bed-side, for my arms. The enemy immediately 
broke into the room, I judge to the number of 20, 
with painted faces, and hideous acclamations. I 
reached up my hands to the bed-tester, for my pistol, 
uttering a short petition to God for everlasting mer- 
cies for me and mine, on account of the merits of our 
glorified Redeemer. Taking down my pistol, I cock- 
ed it, and put it to the breast of the first Indian who 
came up: but my pistol missing fire, I was seized by 
three Indians, who disarmed me, and bound me naked, 
as I was in my shirt, and so I stood for the space of 
an hour. Binding me, they told me that I was to be 



INDIAN WARS. 



81 



carried to C&uebec. My pistol missing fire was the 
occasion of my life's being preserved ; since which I 
have also found it profitable to be crossed in my own 
will. The judgment of God did not long slumber 
against one of the three which took me, who was a 
captain, for by sun-rise, he received a mortal shot 
from my next neighbour's house ; who opposed so 
great a number of French and Indians as three hun- 
dred, and yet were no more than aeven men in an un- 
garrisoned house. 

" I cannot relate the distsessing care I had for my 
dear wife, who had lain in but a few weeks before ; 
and for my poor children, family and Christian neigh- 
bours. The enemy fell to rilling the house, and en- 
tered in great numbers into every room of the house. 
J begged of God to remember mercy in the midst of 
judgment 5 that he would so far restrain their wrath, 
as to prevent their murdering us ; that we might 
have grace to glorify his name, whether in life or 
death; and, as I was able, committed our state to 
God. The enemies who entered the house were all of 
them Indians and Macquas, insulted over me a while ; 
holding up hatchets over my head, threatening to 
burn all I had 5 but yet God, beyond expectation, 
made us in a great measure to be pitied ; for though 
some were so cruel and barbarous as to take and car- 
ry to the door two of my children, and murder them, 
as also a negro woman, yet they gave me liberty to put 
on my clothes, keeping me bound with a cord on one 
arm, till I put on my cloathes to the other ; and 
then changing my cord, they let me dress myself, and 
then pinioned me again: Gave liberty to my dear 
wife to dress herself, and our children. About an 
hour after sun-rise, we were all carried out of the 
house, for a march, and saw many of my neighbour's 
houses inflames, perceiving the whole fort, one house 
excepted, to be taken. Who can tell what sorrows 
pierced our souls when we saw ourselves carried from 
God's sanctuary, to go into a strange land, exposed 
to so many trials ? The journey being at least three 



82 



INDIAN WARS. 



hundred miles we were to travel ; the snow up to the 
knees, and we never inured to such hardships and fa- 
tigues; the place we were to be carried to, a popish 
country. Upon my parting from the town, they tired 
my house and barn. We were carried over the river, 
to the foot of the mountain, about a mile from my 
house, where we found a great number of our Chris- 
tian neighbors, men, women and children, to the num- 
ber of an hundred, nineteen of whom were afterwards 
murdered by the way, and to starve to death, near 
Coos, in a time of great scarcity or famine which the 
savages underwent there. When we came to the 
foot of the mountain, they took away our shoes and 
gave us, in the room of them, Indian shoes, to prepare 
us for our travel. Whilst we were there, the English 
beat out a company, that remained in the town, and 
pursued them to' the river, killing and wounding many 
<bf them ; but the body of the army being alarmed, 
they repulsed those few English that pursued them, 
"After this, we went up the mountain, and saw the 
smoke of the fires in town, and beheld the awful des- 
olation of Ueerfieid: and before we marched any 
farther, they killed a sucking child of the English. 
There were slain by the enemy, of the inhabitants of 
our town, to the number of thirty-eight, besides nine 
of the neighbouring towns. 

" When we came to our lodging place, the first night 
they dug away the snow, and made some wigwams, 
cut down some of the small branches of spruce trees 
to lie down on, and gave the prisoners somewhat to 
eat ; but we had but little appetite. I was pinioned 
and bound down that night, and so I was every night 
whilst I was with the army. Some of the enemy who 
brought drink from the town, fell to drinking, and in 
their drunken fit they killed my negro man, the only 
dead person I either saw at the town, or in the way. 
In the night an Englishman made his escape. In the 
morning I was called for, and ordered by the general 
to tell the English, that if any more made their es- 
cape, they would burn the rest of the prisoners. He 



INDIAN WARS. 



83 



that took me was unwilling to let me speak with any 
of the prisoners as we marched 5 but, early on the 
second day, he being appointed to the guard rear, 
I was put into the hands of my other master, who 
permitted me to speak to my wife, when I overtook 
her, and to walk with her, to help her in her journey." 

After a fatiguing journey of ten or twelve days, the 
Indians reached their village with their prisoners to 
the number of thirty or forty, by whom they were held 
in captivity, enduring almost incredible hardships, 
until the 25th October following, when an ambassa- 
dor from Boston, Samuel Appleton, Esq. was des- 
patched to redeem such as had survived. They took 
passage at Quebec, and to the number of fifty-seven, 
arrived in safety at Boston on the 21st November. 

The Indians continued their depredations upon the 
defenceless inhabitants on the frontiers, until the year 
1/25, when & treaty of peace was signed between com- 
missioners appointed by the General Court at Boston, 
and the Chiefs of the hostile Indian tribes. A long 
peace followed, and the Indians generally manifested 
a disposition to remain on friendly terms with the 
English, and it was supposed that they never would 
again be disposed to hostilities, had they not been un- 
der the immediate influence of French interest. 

War was declared between France and England in 
March, 1744. The first year of the war no Indians 
made their appearance in this part of the country. 
They had found by experience, that to maintain an 
open trade with the English was greatly to their in- 
terest, and consequently at first entered into the war 
with reluctance. 

The first mischief done by the enemy, in this part 
of the country, in the course of this war, was in July, 
1745; when a few Indians came to a place called the 
Great Meadow, about 16 miles above fort Drummer, 
on Connecticut river; two of whom captivated Wil- 
liam Phipps, as he was hoeing his corn. 

October 11. The fort at the Great Meadow was 
attacked by a large party of French and Indians. 



84, 



INDIAN WARS. 



The attack was bold and furious, but without success. 
No lives were lost. Neheniiah Howe was taken cap- 
tive and carried to Quebec, where he soon died. 
The enemy, on their return, met one David Rugg, 
with another person, passing down Connecticut river 
in a canoe. Rugg they killed and scalped, but the 
other with some difficulty made his escape. 

On the 22d of the same month a large party of the 
enemy came to the upper Ashwolot, with a design to 
have taken the fort by surprise, but being discovered 
by a person who was providentially at that time at a 
little distance from the garrison, they were discon- 
certed. An action however ensued, which continued 
for some time. The enemy finally withdrew. In 
this action John Bullard was killed, Nathan Blake 
was captivated, and the wife of Daniel JVPKinne, be- 
ing out of the fort, was overtaken and stabbed. Be- 
fore the enemy retired they burnt several buildings, 
which was supposed to have been done not so much 
for the sake of mischief as to conceal their dead, 
there being many human bones afterwards found 
among the ashes. 

August 3. A body of the enemy appeared at No. 4. 
Suspicions of their approach were excited by the 
yelling of dogs. A scout was sent out from the fort, 
and had proceeded but a few rods before they were 
fired upon. Ebenezer Phillips was killed : the re- 
mainder made their escape to the fort. The enemy 
surrounded the garrison, and endeavoured for three 
days to take it ; but finding the efforts ineffectual they 
withdrew, after having burnt several buildings, and 
killed all their cattle, horses, #c. they could find. 

Aug. 11. Benjamin Wright, of Northfield, riding 
in the woods, was fired on and mortally wounded. 
He died in a few hours after. 

Aug. 20 An army of about 9000 French and In- 
dians, under command of Gen. De Vaudreuil, made 
an attack on fort Massachusetts. The fort was com- 
manded by Col. Hawks, who, unfortunately, was not 
in a situation to defend it against such a force, having 



INDIAN WARS. 



85 



but 37 persons, men, women and children, in the fort ; 
and being miserably provided with ammunition. With 
great fortitude he defended it for 28 hours, and had 
not his ammunition failed, it is probable he never 
would have given up the fort* He was finally neces- 
sitated to capitulate ; and ho offered such articles as 
were accepted by lie V andrueil. One special article 
in this capitulation was, that none of the prisoners 
should be delivered into the hands of the Indians. 
The next day, however, V andrueil divided the pris- 
oners, and delivered them one half, in open violation 
and contempt of the article. The Indians immedi- 
ately killed one, who, by reason of sickness, w as un- 
able to travel. The prisoners, were in general, treated 
with civility 5 most of whom were afterwards redeem- 
ed. Col. Hawks lost but one man in the siege. Gen. 
De Vandfueil, according to the best accounts the 
prisoners could obtain, lost 45, who w ere either kill- 
ed outright, or died of their wounds. 

Immediately after the capture of the fort a party 
of about 50 Indians came on for the purpose of com- 
mitting depredations upon Deerfield. They came 
first upon a hili, at the south-west corner of the south 
meadow, where they discovered ten or twelve men 
and children to work, in a situation in which they 
might all with ea3e be made prisoners. Had they 
succeeded in their design, which was to obtain pris- 
oners rather than scalps, it is probable that events 
would not have been so disastrous as they proved. 
They were disconcerted by the following circum- 
stance. Mr. Eleazer Hawks was out that morning a 
fowling, and was providentially at the foot of the hill 
when the enemy came down ; who seeing him, sup- 
posed they were discovered, and immediately fired 
upon him, killed and scalped him. This gave an 
alarm to the people in the meadow, some of whom 
were but a few rods distant. The enemy were now 
sensible that what they did must be done with des- 
patch. Accordingly thev rushed into the meadow, 
12 



86 



INDIAN WARS. 



fired on Simeon Anisden, a lad, beheaded and scalp- 
ed him. Messrs. Samuel Allen, John Sadler and Ado- 
nijah Gillet, ran a few rods and made a stand under 
the bank of the river, where they were attacked 
with fury, and fought a little time with great brav- 
ery ; they were, however, soon overpowered with 
numbers. Allen and Gillet fell. Sadler, findings 
himself alone, ran across the river and made his es- 
cape, amidst a shower of balls. While this was pass- 
ing, Oliver Amsden was pursued a few rods, overta- 
ken and stabbed, after having his hands and fingers 
cut in pieces by endeavouring to defend himself ag- 
ainst the knives of the enemy. At the same time 
three children, by the name of Allen, were pursued. 
Eunice, one of three, was struck down with a toma- 
hawk, which was sunk into her head ; but by reason 
of the haste in which the enemy retreated, she was 
left unscalped, and afterwards recovered. Caleb Al- 
len of Deerfield, made his escape ; and Samuel was 
taken captive, who was the only prisoner taken at 
this time. 

This lad, after a year and nine months, was re- 
deemed. Col. Hawks, who was sent to Canada for 
the purpose of redeeming captives, inquiring for the 
lad, was informed, that he was unwilling to be seen, 
and that he expressed great dissatisfaction on hearing 
of his arrival. When he was brought into the pres- 
ence of Col. Hawks he was unwilling to know him, 
although he was his uncle, and had always been ac- 
quainted with him in Deerfield ! Neither would he 
speak in the English tongue, not that he had forgot- 
ten it, but to express his unwillingness to return. He 
made use of various arts that he might not be ex- 
changed ; and finally could not be obtained but by 
threats, and was brought off by force. In this we see 
the surprising power of habit. This youth had lost his 
affection for his country and his friends in the course 
of one year and nine months 5 and had become so at- 
tached to the Indians, and their mode of living, as to 



INDIAN WARS. 



87 



consider it the happiest life. This appears the more 
surprising when we consider, that he fared extremely 
hard, and was reduced almost to a skeleton. 

Aug. 26. Capt. Hobbs, passing through the woods 
from No. 4 to fort Shirly, with 40 men, and being 
about 12 miles north-west of fort Dummer, was at- 
tacked by a large body of the enemy, who had pur- 
sued him. It being in the middle of the day he made 
a stand, that his men might receive some refresh- 
ment. While they were dining, the scout, which were 
sent upon the back tract, were fired on. Upon this 
Capt. Hobbs put his men in as much readiness for an 
action as two or three minutes would admit of. The 
enemy came on with great fury, expecting, no doubt, 
an immediate surrender ; but Capt. Hobbs gave them 
a warm reception, and fought for three hours with 
such boldness and fortitude that, had he and his men 
been Romans, they would have received a laurel, and 
their names handed down with honour to the latest 
posterity. The enemy finally ilea in haste, and with 
great loss. Capt. Hobbs, in this action lost but three 
men, and had but three wounded. Those killed were 
Ebenezer Mitchell, Eli Scott and Samuel Gunn. 

Aug. 2. About 200 of the enemy made their ap- 
pearance at fort Massachusetts, which was then un- 
der the command of Capt. Ephraim Williams. A 
scout was first fired upon, which drew out Capt. Wil- 
liams, with about 30 men. An attack begun which 
continued for some time ; but finding the enemy nu- 
merous, Capt. Williams fought upon the retreat till he 
had again recovered the fort. The enemy soon with- 
drew, and with what loss was unknown. In this 
action one Abbot was killed, and Lieut. Kawley and 
Ezekiei Wells were wounded, but recovered. 

This is the last instance of mischief done by the 
enemy in the western frontiers, in what is called the 
first French war. Peace, however, was not finally 
settled with the Indians until October, 1749, when a 
treaty was held at Falmouth, by commissioners from 



88 



INDIAN WARS. 



the General Court and the Chiefs of the Indian 
tribes, by whom a former treaty, with some addi- 
tions, were renewed. 

From this important period, which being the 15th 
day of October, 1749, ought the peace and prosperi- 
ty of the now flourishing States of New- England to 
receive their date, it was at this period that her 
hardy sons quit the sanguinary field, and exchanged 
their implements of death for such as were better 
calculated for the cultivation and tillage of their 
farms. The forests, with which they were encom- 
passed, no longer abounded with fierce and untutored 
savages; the Indian death song and war-whoop was 
no longer heard ; the greater part of the Indians that 
survived the many bloody engagements had sought 
peace and retirement far westward; the prisoners 
which the English had captured were liberated, on 
condition of resorting to, and remaining with them. 
They proved faithful to their promise. They took 
possession of the country bounding on the great 
lakes, and in possession of which their descendants 
remain to the present day. A description of whose 
manners and customs will be found in the succeeding 
chapter. 

We shall close this chapter with a few remarks 
relative to the state, customs and ludicrous opinions 
of the Indians, in New-England, when first visited by 
our forefathers, and of their rapid depopulation since 
that period. 

We cannot even hazard a conjecture respecting 
the Indian population of New-England, at the time 
of its first settlement by the Knglish. Capt. Smith, 
in a voyage to this coast, in 1614, supposed that on 
the Massachusetts islands there are about 3000 In- 
dians. All accounts agree that the sea coast and 
neighbouring islands were thickly inhabited. 

Three years before the arrival of the Plymouth 
colony, a very mortal sickness, supposed to have been 
the plague or yellow fe\er 5 raged with great violence 



INDIAN WARS. 



89 



among the Indians in the eastern parts of New-Eng- 
land. Whole towns were depopulated. The living 
were not ahle to bury the dead ; and their bones 
were found lying above ground many years after. 
The Massachusetts Indians are said to have been 
reduced from 30,000 to 300 fighting men. In 1633 
the small pox swept off great numbers of the Indians 
in Massachusetts. 

In 1763, on the Island of Nantucket, in the space 
of four months, the Indians were reduced by a mor- 
tal sickness from 320 to 85 souls. The hand of Prov- 
idence is notable in these surprising instances of mor- 
tality among the Indians to make room for the whites. 
Comparatively few have perished by wars ; and the 
descendants of the few that were not driven to the 
westward by the English, waste and moulder away, 
and in a manner unaccountably disappear. 

The number of Indians in the state of Connecti- 
cut, in 17T4, was 1363 ; but their number is doubts 
less much lessened. The principal part of their pop- 
ulation in this state is at Mohegan, in the county of 
New 7 - London. These are the descendants of the Mo- 
hegans, of whom frequent mention is made in the 
foregoing pacres, as being very serviceable (under the 
command of Uncus) to the English, in their many en- 
gagements with the natives. The Mohegans have 
ever exhibited great reverence for the descendants of 
their royal sachem. After the death of Uncus, his 
body, by his request, w T as conveyed to Norwich, and 
there interred in the neighbourhood of one of his forts. 
This spot was selected by him previous to his death, 
and it was his dying request that the whole family of 
Uncus should there be buried 5 a request which has 
been strictly complied with by the Mohegans, who, 
although the distance is seven miles from their own 
burying ground, have and continue to deposit there 
the descendants of their revered sachem. 

The number of Indians in Rhode-Island, in 1783, 
was only 525. More than half these live in Charles- 



90 



INDIAN WARS. 



town, in the county of Washington. In 1774 their 
number was 1482 ; so that in nine years the decrease 
was 957. We have not been able to ascertain the 
exact state of the Indian population in Blassachusetts 
and New- Hampshire. In 1784 there was a tribe of 
about forty Indians at Norridgwalk, in the province 
of Maine, with some few other scattering remains of 
tribes in other parts, and a number of towns thinly 
inhabited round Cape Cod. 

When the English first arrived in America, the In- 
.dians had no times or places set apart for religious 
worship. The first settlers in New-England ? were 
at great pains to introduce among them the habits of 
civilized life, and to instruct them in the Christian 
religion. A few years intercourse with the Indians 
induced them to establish several good and natural 
regulations. 

The Rev. Mr. Elliot, of Roxbury, near Boston, 
who has been styled the great Indian Apostle, with 
much labour learned the Natic dialect of the Indian 
languages. He published an Indian grammar, and 
preached in Indian to several tribes, and in 1664 
translated the Bible and several religious books into 
the Indian language. He relates several pertinent 
queries of the Indians respecting the Christian re- 
ligion. Among others, whether Jesus Christ, the 
mediator or interpreter, could understand prayer in 
the Indian language ? If the father be bad and the 
child good, why should God in the second command- 
ment be offended with the child ? How the Indians 
came to differ so much from the English in the knowl- 
edge of Goo and Jesus Christ, since they all 
sprung from one father? Mr. Elliot was indefatiga- 
ble in his labours, and travelled through ail parts of 
Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies, as far as Cape 
Cod. The colony had such a veneration for him, that 
in an act of the General Assembly relating to In- 
dians, they express themselves thus, " By the advice 
of the said magistrates and of Mr. Elliot.- 5 



INDIAN WARS. 



9i 



Concerning the religion of the untaught natives of 
New-England, who once held a plurality of deities, 
after the arrival of the English supported there were 
only three, because they saw people of three kinds of 
complexions, viz. English, negroes and themselves. 

It was a notion pretty generally prevailing among 
them, that it was not the same god who made them 
who made us; but that they were created after the 
white people; and it is probable they supposed their 
god gained some special skill, by seeing the white 
people made, and so made them better 5 for it is cer~ 
tain they looked upon themselyes, and their methods 
of living, which they say their god expressly pre- 
scribed for them, vastly preferable to the white peo- 
ple and their methods. 

With regard to a future state of existence, many of 
them imagined that the chichung, i. e. the shadow, or 
what survived the body, would at death go south- 
ward, and in an unknown but curious place would 
enjoy some kind of happiness, such as hunting, feast- 
ing, dancing, and the like. And what they supposed 
would contribute much to their happiness, was, that 
they should there never be weary of those entertain- 
ments. 

The natives of New- England believed not only 
plurality of gods, who made and governed the sev- 
eral nations of the world, but they made deities of 
every thing they imagined to be great, powerful, 
beneficial, or hurtful to mankind ; yet they concei- 
ved an almighty being, whom they called Kichtau, 
who at first, according to their tradition, made a man 
and woman out of stone, but upon some dislike des- 
troyed them again, and then made another couple out 
of a t ree, from whom descended all the nations of the 
earth ; but how they come to be scattered and dis- 
persed into countries so remote from one another they 
could not tell. They believed their supreme god to 
be a good being, and paid a sort of acknowledgement 
to him for plenty, victory, and other benefits. 



93 



INDIAN WABS. 



The immortality of the soul was universally believ- 
ed among them* When good men died, they said, 
their souls went to Kichtau, where they met with 
their friends, and enjoyed all manner of pleasures ; 
when the wicked died, they went to Kichtau also, but 
were commanded to walk away \ and so wander about 
in restless discontent and darkness forever. 

The natives of New- England in general were quick 
of apprehension, ingenious, and when pleased nothing 
could exceed their courtesy and friendship. Gravity 
and eloquence distinguished them in council, address 
and bravery in war. They were not more easily pro- 
voked than the English, but when once they have re- 
ceived an injury, it is never forgotten. In anger, they 
were not like the English, talkative and boisterous, 
but sullen and revengeful. The men declined all la- 
bour and spent their time in hunting, fishing, shooting, 
and warlike exercises. They imposed all the drudg- 
ery upon their women, who gathered and brought 
home their wood, planted, dressed and gathered their 
corn. When they travelled the women carried their 
children, packs and provisions. The women submit- 
ted patiently to such treatment. This ungenerous 
usage of their husbands they repaid with smiles and 
good humour. 

The clothing of the natives was the skins of wild 
beasts. The men threw a mantle of skins over them, 
and wore a small flap which was termed Indian 
breeches. The women were much more modest. 
They wore a coat of skins girt about their loins, which 
reached down to their hams, which they never put 
off in company. If the husband chose to dispose of 
his wife's beaver petticoat, she could not be persuad- 
ed to part with it until he had provided another of 
some sort. In the winter their blankets of skins, 
which hang loose in summer, was tied or wrapped 
more closely about them. The old men in the se- 
vere seasons also wore a sort of trowsers made of 
skins and fastened to their girdles, and on their feet 



INDIAN WARS. 



93 



they wore moccasons, made of moose leather, and 
their chiefs or sachems wore on their heads a cap 
decorated with feathers. 

Their houses or wigwams were at best but miser- 
able cells; they were constructed generally like ar- 
bours, or small young trees bent and twisted together^ 
and so curiously covered with mats or bark that they 
were tolerably dry and warm. They made their fires 
in the centre of the house, and there was an opening 
at the top which emitted the smoke. For the con- 
venience of wood and water, these huts were common- 
ly erected in groves, near some river, brook or living 
spring. When either failed, the family removed to 
another place. 

They lived in a poor low manner. Their food was 
coarse and simple, without any kind of seasoning, 
having neither spice, salt or bread. Their food was 
principally the entrails of moose, deer, bears, and all 
kinds of wild beasts and fowls. Of fish and snakes 
they were extremely fond. They had strong stom- 
achs, and nothing came amiss. They had no set 
meals, but like other wild creatures ate when they 
were hungry and could find any thing to satisfy the 
cravings of nature. They had but little food from the 
earth except what is spontaneously produced. Indian 
corn, beans and squashes were the only eatables for 
which the natives of Kew-England laboured. 

Their household furniture was of but small value. 
Their beds were composed of mats or skins. They 
had neither chairs or stools, but commonly sat upon 
the ground with their elbows upon their knees. A 
few wooden and stone vessels and instruments served 
all the purpose of domestic life. Their knife was a 
sharp stone, shell or kind of reed, which they sharp- 
ened in such a manner as to cut their hair, make their 
bows and arrows, &c. They made their axes of stone, 
which they shaped somewhat similar to our axes, but 
with the difference of their being made w ith a neck 
instead of an eye, and fastened with a withe like a 
blacksmith's chissel. 

13 



94 



INDIAN WARS. 



The manner of the courtship and marriage of the 
natives manifested the impurity of their morals. 
When a young Indian wished for marriage he pre- 
sented the girl with whom he was enamoured, with 
bracelets, belts and chains of wampum. If she re- 
ceived his presents, they cohabited together for a time 
upon trial. If they pleased each other they joined in 
marriage ; but if, after a few weeks, they were not 
suited, the man, leaving his presents, quitted the girl 
and sought another mistress, and she another lover. 
In this manner they courted until two met who were 
agreeable to each other. 

The natives of New-England although they consist- 
ed of a great number of different nations and clans, 
appear to have spoken the same language. From 
Piscataqua to Connecticut it was so nearly the same 
that the different tribes could converse tolerably to- 
gether. The Mohegan or Pequot language was es- 
sentially that of all the Indians in New-England. 
The word Mohegan, is a corruption of Muhheka- 
neew, in the singular, or of Muhhekaneck in the plural 
number. The Penobscots,bordering on Nova Scotia ; ^ 
the Indians of St. Francis, in Canada; the Dela- 
wares, in Pennsylvania ; the Shawnese, on the Ohio, 
and the Chippewas, at the westward of lake Huron? 
all now speak the same radical language. 



CHAPTER Tl. 

<© W THE DIFFERENT TRIBES OF INDIANS I N H A B I - 
TING THE WESTERN COUNTRY. 

As we are now about to speak of the wars with the 
savages in the western country, we shall commence 
with a description of their prevailing customs and 
habits. 

They are the descendants of those who once in^ 
habited the sea-coasts, and who were driven by the 
English, as mentioned in the preceding chapter, far 
to the westward : so that but few of their descend- 
ants are now to be found within less than two or three 
hundred miles of the sea ; for though many of them 
have been instructed in the knowledge of Christiani- 
ty, and districts of land have been allotted them in 
several of the British colonies, where they have been 
formed into societies ; yet it has been found that in 
proportion as they lay by their ancient customs and 
conform to the manners of civilized life, they dwindle 
away, either because the change is prejudicial to their 
constitutions, or because when settled among the 
English they have great opportunities of procuring 
spiritous liquors, of which both sexes are in general 
inordinately fond ; very little care being ever taken to 
prevent those who are inclined to take advantage of 
them in trade from basely intoxicating them for that 
purpose. This has a powerful effect on their consti- 
tutions, and soon proves fatal, producing diseases to 
which they were formerly strangers. Thus, where 
a few years ago there were considerable settlements 
of them, their name is almost forgotten ; and thoss 



95 INDIAN WARS. 

who still remain have, for the most part, joined them- 
selves to other nations in the interior part of the 
country on the banks of the lakes and rivers. 

The Indians in Canada, and to the south of it, are 
tall and straight beyond the proportion of most other 
nations. Their bodies are strong, but, as has been 
before observed, this is a strength rather suited to en- 
dure the exercise of the chase than much hard labour, 
by which they are soon consumed. They have gene- 
rally supple limbs, and the smallest degree of defor- 
mity is very rarely seen among them. Their features 
are regular, their complexion somewhat of a copper 
colour or reddish brown. Their hair, which is long, 
black and lank, is as strong as that of a horse. They 
carefully eradicate the hair from every part of the 
body except the head, and they confine that to a tuft 
at the top ; whence an erroneous idea has much pre- 
vailed that the men of this country are naturally desti- 
tute of beards ; but it is unquestionable that it is 
only an artificial deprivation. 

They generally wear only a blanket wrapped about 
them, or a shirt, both of which they purchase of the 
English traders. When the Europeans first came 
among them they found some nations entirely naked, 
and others with a coarse cotton cloth, wove by them- 
selves, round their waiste ; but in the northern parts 
their whole bodies were in winter covered with 
skins. 

The Huron Indians possess a very pleasant and 
fertile country on the eastern side of the lake which 
bears the same name. Half a century ago they were 
very numerous, and could raise six or seven hundred 
warriors, but they have suffered greatly from the at- 
tacks of neighbouring tribes. They differ in their 
manners from any of the Indian tribes with which 
they are surrounded. They build regular houses, 
which they cover with bark ; and are considered as 
the most wealthy Indians on the continent, having not 
only many horses, but some black cattle and swine. 
They likewise raise much corn, so that after provid- 



INDIAN WARS. 



97 



ing for their own wants, they are enabled to barter 
the remainder with other tribes. Their country ex- 
tends 150 miles eastward of the lake, but is nar- 
rower in the contrary direction. The soil is not ex- 
ceeded by any in this part of the world. The timber 
is tall and beautiful ; the woods abound with game, 
and abundance of fish may be obtained from the riv- 
ers and lakes; so that if it was well cultivated, the 
land would equal that on any part of the sea-coast of 
North-America. A missionary of the order of Car- 
thusian friars, by permission of the bishop of Canada, 
resides among them ; and is by them amply rewarded 
for his services. 

Those tribes of Indians who inhabit the banks of 
lakes Champlain, George and Ontario, were formerly 
called Iroquois, but have since been known by the 
name of "the five Mohawk nations," and "the Mo- 
hawks of Canada.' 9 The former are called Ononda- 
goes, Oneides, Senecas, Tuscarovies, and Troon- 
dock; these fought on the side of the English in the 
contest for territory with France. The Cohnawah- 
gans and St. Francis Indians joined the French. 

The knowledge which we have of the Indians fur- 
ther to the S.W. as far beyond 42° N. latitude, is 
chiefly obtained from the very worthy provincial offi- 
cer, Major Carver, who travelled into those parts in 
the year 1776, and whose placid manners and artless 
sincerity could not fail of recommending him to men 
whom nature alone had instructed. He visited twelve 
nations of Indians: among which the following ap- 
pear to be the most considerable: The Chipeway, 
who dwell to the southward of lake Superior, and the 
Ottawas : the Winnebags to the W. of lake Michigan, 
who with the Saukies, and Ottiganmies occupy the 
whole extent of country from the lake to the Missi- 
sippi, below 42° N. latitude, where the Ousconsin ri- 
ver discharges itself. The Nandowesse, the most nu- 
merous and extended Indian nation, inhabit the coun- 
try on the W. of the Missisippi, on the borders of 
Louisiana. 



98 



INDIAN WARS. 



The Indians in general are strangers to the passions 
of jealousy $ and the most profligate of their young 
men very rarely attempt the virtue of married wo- 
men, nor do such often put themselves in the way of 
solicitation, although the Indian women, in general, 
are amorous, and before marriage, not less esteemed 
for gratifying their passions. It appears to have been 
a very prevalent custom with the Indians of this 
country, before they became acquainted with the Eu- 
ropeans, to compliment strangers with their w ives 5 
and the custom still prevails, not only among the low- 
er rank, but even among the chiefs themselves, who 
consider such an offer as the greatest proof of cour- 
tesy they can give a stranger. 

The men are remarkable for their indolence, on 
which they even seem to value themselves ; saving 
that labour would degrade them, and belongs solely to 
the women, while they are formed only for war, hunt- 
ing and fishing 5 to form their canoes, and build their 
houses. But they frequently make the women assist 
them in these 5 besides attending to all domestic af- 
fairs, and cultivating the land. They have a method 
of lighting up their huts with their torches, made of 
the splinters cut from the pine or birch tree, 

The Indians have generally astonishing patience 
and equanimity of mind, with the command of every 
passion except revenge. They bear the most sudden 
and unexpected misfortune with calmness and compo- 
sure, without uttering a word, or the least change of 
countenance. Even a prisoner who knows not wheth- 
er he may not in a few hours be put to the most cruel 
death, seems entirely unconcerned, and eats and drinks 
with as much cheerfulness as those into whose hands 
they had fallen. Their resolution and courage under 
sickness and pain is really astonishing. Even when 
under the shocking torture to which prisoners are 
frequently exposed, they will not only make them- 
selves cheerful, but provoke and irritate their tormen- 
tors by most severe reproaches. 



INDIAN WARS. 



99 



They are graceful in their deportment upon serious 
occasions, observant of those in company, respectful 
to the old, of a temper cool and deliberate, by which 
they are never in haste to speak before they have 
well thought of the matter, and sure that the person 
who spoke before them has finished all that he had 
to say. In their public councils, every man is heard 
in his turn according to his years, his wisdom, or his 
services to his country have ranked him. Not a whis- 
per nor a murmur is heard from the rest while he 
speaks ; no indecent commendations, no ill-timed ap- 
plause. The young attend for their instruction ; for 
here they learn the history of their nation, are ani- 
mated by those who celebrate the warlike actions of 
their ancestors ; are taught what is the interest of 
their country, and how to cultivate and pursue it. 

Hospitality is exercised among them with the utmost 
generosity and good will. Their houses, their pro- 
visions, and even their young women are presented to 
a guest. To those of their own nation they are like- 
wise very . humane and beneficent. If any of them 
succeed ill in hunting, if the harvest fails, or his house 
is burnt, he feels no other effect of his misfortune 
than its giving him an opportunity of experiencing the 
benevolence and regard of his countrymen, who for 
that purpose, have almost every thing in common. 
But to the enemies of his country, or to those who 
have privately offended him, the native American is 
implacable. He never indeed makes use of oaths, or 
indecent expressions, but cruelly conceals his senti- 
ments, till by treachery or surprise he can gratify his 
revenge. JNo length of time is yufficient to allay his 
resentment ; no distance of place is great enough to 
protect the object ; he crosses the steepest moun- 
tains, pierces impervious forests, and traverses the 
most hideous deserts ; bearing the inclemency of the 
season, the fatigue of the expedition, the extremes of 
hunger and thirst, with patience and cheerfulness, in 
hopes of surprising his enemy,and exercising upon him 
the most shocking barbarities. When these cannot 



100 INDIAN WARS. 

be effected, the revenge is left as a legacy transferred 
from generation to generation from father to son, till 
an opportunity offers of taking what they think ample 
satisfaction. To such extremes do the Indians push 
their friendship, or their enmity 5 and such indeed is 
in general, the character of all uncivilized nations. 
They, however, esteem nothing so unworthy a man 
of sense, as a peevish temper, and a proneness to a 
sudden and rash anger. 

On the other hand, they are highly sensible of the 
utility and pleasures of friendship ; for each of them, 
at a certain age, makes choice of some one nearly of 
the same standing in life to be their most intimate and 
bosom friend. These two enter into mutual engage- 
ments, by which they oblige themselves to brave any 
danger and run any risk, to assist and support each 
other. This attachment is even carried so far as to 
overcome the fear of death, which they consider as 
only a temporary separation, being persuaded that 
they shall meet and be united in friendship in the 
other world, never to be separated more 5 and that 
there they shall need one another's assistance as well 
as here. 

It does not appear that there is any Indian nation 
that has not some sense of a Deity, and a kind of su- 
perstitious religion. Their ideas of the nature and 
attributes of God are very obscure, and some of them 
absurd, though they conceive of him as the Great 
Spirit, but imagine that his more immediate residence 
is on the Island of the great lakes. They seem to 
have some idea that there are spirits of a higher or- 
der than man ; and, supposing them to be every where 
present, frequently invoke them, and endeavour to 
act agreeable to their desires. They likewise imagine 
that there is an evil spirit, who they say is always in- 
clined to mischief, and bears great sway in the crea- 
tion. This indeed is the principal object of their 
devotions. They generally address him most hearti- 
ly, beseeching him to do them no harm. But sup- 
posing the others to be propitious, and ever inclined 



INDIAN WARS. 



101 



to do good, they intreat those spirits to bestow bless- 
ings upon them and prevent the evil spirit from hurt- 
ing them. Major Carver relates, that one of the 
most considerable chiefs among the Ottawas, with 
whom he remained a night, on attending hirn to his 
canoe the next morning, with great solemnity and in 
an audible voice offered up a fervent prayer, as he 
entered his canoe, u that the Great Spirit would fa- 
vour him with a prosperous voyage 5 that he would 
give him an unclouded sky and smooth waters by day, 
and that he might lie down by night on a beaver 
blanket* enjoying uninterrupted sleep and pleasant 
dreams 5 and also that he might find continual secu- 
rity under the great pipe of peace." To procure the 
protection of the good spirit they imagine it neces- 
sary to distinguish themselves, and that they must, 
above all other attainments, become good warriors, 
expert hunters and steady marksmen. 

Their priests often persuade the people that they 
have revelations of future events, and are authorised 
to command them to pursue such and such measures. 
They also undertake to unfold the mysteries of relig- 
ion, and to solve and interpret all their dreams. They 
represent the other world as a place abounding with 
an inexhaustible plenty of every thing desirable, where 
they shall enjoy the most full and exquisite gratifica- 
tion of all their senses. This is doubtless the motive 
that induces the Indian to meet death with such indif- 
ference and composure; none of them being in the 
least dismayed at the news that he has but a few 
hours or minutes to live, but with the greatest intre- 
pidity sees himself upon the brink of being separated 
from all terrestrial things, and with great serenity 
talks to all around him. Thus a father leaves his 
dying advice to his children, and takes a formal leave 
of all his friends. 

They testify great indifference for the productions 
of art: " It is pretty, I like to look at it, ?? but express 
no curiosity about its construct ion. Such, however, 
is not their behaviour when they are told of a person 
H 



102 



INDIAN WARS. 



who distinguishes himself by agility in running ; is 
well skilled in hunting 5 can take a most exact aim ; 
work a canoe along a rapid with great dexterity ; is 
skilled in all the arts which their stealthy mode of 
carrying on a war is capable of ; or is acute in disco- 
ering the situation of a country, and can, without a 
guide, pursue his proper course through a vast forest, 
and support hunger, thirst and fatigue with invininci- 
ble firmness ; at such a relation their attention is 
aroused. They listen to the interesting tale with de- 
light, and express in the strongest terms their esteem 
for so great and so wonderful a man. 

They generally bury their dead with great decen- 
cy, and deposit in the grave such articles as the de- 
ceased had made the greatest use of, and been most 
attached to ; as his bow and arrows, pipes, tobacco, 
&/C. that he may not be in want of any thing when 
he comes to the other country. The mothers mourn 
for their children a long time, and the neighbours 
make presents to the father, and he in return gives 
them a feast. 

Every band has a leader, who bears the name of 
Sachem or chief warrior, and is chosen for his tried 
valour and skill in conducting the war. To him is 
entrusted all military operations, but his authority 
does not extend to civil affairs, that pre-eminence be- 
ing given to another, who possesses it by a kind of 
hereditary claim, and whose assent is necessary to 
render valid all conveyances of land, or treaties of 
whatever kind, to which he affixes the mark of the 
tribe or nation. Though these military and civil 
chiefs are considered the heads of the band, and the 
latter is asually styled king, yet the American Indians 
consider themselves as controlled by neither civil or 
military authority. Every individual regards himself 
as free and independent, and would never renounce 
the idea of liberty ; therefore injunctions, conveyed 
in the style of a positive command, would be disre- 
garded and treated with contempt. Nor do their 
leaders assume an ascendancy repugnant to these 



INDIAN WARS. 



103 



sentiments, but merely advise what is necessary to be 
done, which is sufficient to produce the most prompt 
and effectual execution, never producing a murmur. 

Their great council is composed of the heads of 
tribes and families, and of those whose capacity has 
raised them to the same degree of consideration. 
They meet in a house built in each of their towns for 
that purpose, and also to receive ambassadors, to de- 
liver them an answer, to sing their traditionary songs, 
or to commemorate the dead. In these councils they 
propose all such matters as concern the state, and 
which have been already digested in the secret coun- 
cil, at which none but the head men assist. The 
chiefs seldom speak much themselves at these gene- 
ral meetings, but entrust their sentiments with a per- 
son who is called their speaker or orator, there being 
one of this profession in every tribe or town ; and 
their manner of speaking is natural and easy, their 
words strong and expressive, their style bold, figura- 
tive and laconic, whatever is told tending either to 
form the judgment or rouse the passions. 

When any business of consequence is transacted 
they appoint a feast upon the occasion, of which al- 
most the whole nation partakes. Before the enter- 
tainment is ready, the principal person begins with a 
song on the remarkable events of their history, and 
whatever may tend- to their honour or instruction. 
The others sing in their turn. They also have dances, 
chiefly of a martial kind 5 and no solemnity or public 
business is carried on without songs and dances. 

As the Indians are high spirited and soon irritated, 
the most trifling provocations frequently rouse them 
to arms, and prove the occasion of bloodshed and 
murder. Their petty private quarrels are often de- 
cided this way, and expeditions undertaken without 
the knowledge or consent of the general council. 
These private expeditions are winked at and excused, 
as a mean of keeping their young men in action, and 
inuring them to the exertions of war. 



104 



INDIAN WARS. 



But when war becomes a national affair, it is enter- 
ed upon with great deliberation. They first call an 
assembly of sachems or chief warriors, to deliberate 
upon the affair, and every thing relating to it. In this 
general congress among the northern Indians and Five 
Nations, the women have a voice as well as the men. 
When they are assembled the chief sachem or presi- 
dent proposes the affair they have met to consult up- 
on, and taking up the tomahawk, which lies by him, 
says, "Who among you will go and fight against such 
a nation ? Who among you will bring captives from 
thence to replace our deceased friends, that o-ur 
wrongs may be revenged and our name and honour 
maintained as long as the rivers flow, the grass grows, 
or the sun and moon shall endure ?" Then one of the 
principal warriors rising, harrangues the whole assem- 
bly, and afterward, addressing himself to the young 
men, inquires who will go with him, and fight their 
enemies ? When they generally rise, one after anoth- 
er, and fall in behind him, while he w alks round the 
circle till he is joined by a sufficient number. 

On such occasions they usually have a deer, or 
some other beast, roasted whole ; and each of them, 
as they consent to go to war, cuts offa piece and eats, 
saying, " Thus will I devour our enemies mention- 
ing the nation they are going to attack. The cere- 
mony being performed, the dance commences, and 
they sing their war-song, which has relation to their 
intended expedition and conquest, or to their own 
skill, courage and dexterity in fighting, and the man- 
ner in which they will vanquish their enemies. Their 
expressions are strong and pathetic,accompanied w ith 
a tone that inspires terror. 

Such is the influence of their w omen in these con- 
sultations that the iss-ue depends much upon them. 
If any one of them, in conjunction with the chiefs, has 
a mind to excite one who does not immediately de- 
pend upon them to take an active part in the war, 
she presents, by the hand of some trusty young war- 
rior, a string of wampum to the person whoge help 



INDIAN WARS. 



105 



she solicits, which seldom fails of producing the ef- 
fect. But when they solicit an offensive or defensive 
alliance with a whole nation, they send an embassy 
with a large belt of wampum and a bloody hatchet, 
inviting them to come and drink the blood of their 
enemies. 

The wampum used on these and other occasions, 
before their acquaintance with Europeans, was only 
small shells, which they picked up by the sea-coasts 
and on the banks of the lakes. It now consists prin- 
cipally of a kind of cylindrical beads, made of white 
and black shells, which are esteemed among them as 
silver and gold are among us. The black they think 
the most valuable. Both of them are their greatest 
riches and ornaments, answering ail the ends of mo- 
ney among us. They have the art of stringing, twist- 
ing and interweaving them into their belts, collars, 
blankets, &c. in ten thousand different sizes, forms, 
and figures, so as not only to be ornaments for every 
part of dress, but expressive of all their important 
transactions. They dye the wampum of various col- 
ours and shades ; and so they are made significant of 
almost every thing they please. By these their re- 
cords are kept and their thoughts communicated to 
one another, as ours are by writing. Thus the belts 
that pass from one nation to another, in ail important 
transactions, are carefully preserved in the cabin of 
their chiefs, and serve both as a kind of record or 
history, and as a public treasure. Hence they are 
never used on trifling occasions. 

The cahnut, or pipe of peace, is of no less impor- 
tance, nor is it less revered among them. The bowl 
of this pipe is made of a kind of soft red stone, easily 
wrought, and hollowed out ; the stem is of cane, or a 
kind of light wood, painted with different colours, 
and adorned with the heads, tails and feathers cf the 
most beautiful birds, &,c. The use of the calmut is 
to smoke either tobacco, or some other herb used in- 
stead of it, when they enter into an alliance or any 
solemn engagement 5 this being esteemed the most 



106 



INDIAN WARS. 



sacred oath that can be taken, the violation of which 
is thought to be most infamous, and deserving severe 
punishment in the other life. When they treat of 
war, the whole pipe and all its ornaments are red ; 
sometimes it is red only on one side, and by the dis- 
position of the feathers, &c. a person aca^ainted with 
their customs knows at first sight the intentions or 
desires of the nation which presents it. Smoking the 
calmut is also upon some occasions, and in all trea- 
ties, considered as a sacred oath, as a seal of their 
decrees, and a pledge of their performance of them. 
The size and decorations of their calmuts are com- 
monly proportioned to the importance of the occasion, 
to the quality of the persons to whom they are pre- 
sented, and to the esteem and regard they have for 
them. 

Another instrument of great importance among 
them is the tomahawk. This is an ancient weapon 
used by them in war, before they were taught the 
use of iron or steel ; since which hatchets have been 
substituted in the room of them ; but it retains its use 
and importance in public transactions, and, like the 
pipe, is very significant. This instrument is formed 
in some respects like a hatchet, having along handle; 
the head, which is a round knob of solid wood, calcu- 
lated to knock a man down, has on the other side a 
point bending a little toward the handle, and near the 
centre where the handle pierces the head another 
point projects forward, of a considerable length, which 
serves to thrust with like a spear. 'I he tomahawk is 
also ornamented with painting and feathers, disposed 
and variegated in many significant forms, according 
to the occasion and end for which they are used ; and 
on it are kept a kind of journal of their marches and 
most important occurrences in a kind of hieroglyph- 
ics. When the council is called to deliberate on war 
the tomahawk is coloured red ; and when the council 
sits, it is laid down by the chief, and if war be con- 
cluded upon, the captain of the young warriors takes 
it up, and, holding it in his hand, dances and sings 



INDIAN WARS. 



107 



the war-song. When the council is over, this, or some 
other of the same kind., is sent by the hands of the 
same warrior to every tribe concerned ; who with it 
presents a belt of wampum and delivers his message, 
throwing a tomahawk on the ground, which is taken 
up by one of the most expert warriors, if they chose 
to join ; if not, it is returned with a belt of their wam- 
pum suited to the occasion. 

Each nation or tribe has its distinct ensigns, gen- 
erally consisting of some beast, bird or fish. Thus 
the Five Nations have the bear, otter, wolf, tortoise 
and eagle ; by these names the tribes are generally 
distinguished, and the shapes of these animals are 
pricked and painted on several parts of their bodies. 
Generally, when they march through the woods, 
they, at every encampment, cut the figure of their 
arms on the trees, especially when they have had 
a successful campaign, that travellers may know that 
they have been there 5 recording also in their way 
the number of prisoners and scalps they have 
taken. 

Their military appearance is very odd and terrible. 
They cut off all their hair, except a spot on the crown 
of their head, and pluck out their eye-brows. The 
lock left upon the head is divided into several parcels, 
each of which is stiffened, and intermixed with beads 
and feathers of various shapes and colours, the 
whole twisted and connected together. They paint 
themselves with a red pigment down to the eye- 
brows, which they sprinkle over with white down. 
The gristle of their ears are slit almost quite round, 
and hung with ornaments that have generally the 
figure of some bird or beast drawn upon them. Their 
noses are likewise bored and hung with beads, and 
their faces painted with various colours. On their 
breasts are a gorget or medal of brass, copper, or 
some other metal 5 and by a string which goes round 
their necks is suspended that horrid weapon called 
the scalping knife. 



108 



INDIAN WARS. 



Thus equipped, they march forth, singing their war- 
song, till they lose sight of their village 5 and are 
generally followed by their women, who assist them 
in carrying their baggage, whether by land or water, 
but commonly return before they proceed to action. 

They have generally one commander for ten men 5 
and if the number amounts to one hundred, a general 
is appointed over the others, not properly to com- 
mand, but to give his opinion. They have no stated 
rules of discipline, or fixed methods of carrying on a 
war. but make their attacks in as many different ways 
as there are occasions, but generally in flying parties, 
equipped for that purpose. 

The weapons used by those who trade with the 
English and French are commonly a firelock, a hatch- 
et and a scalping knife- but the others use bows, 
tomahawks and pikes. As the commander in chief 
governs only by advice, and can neither reward nor 
punish, every private may return home when he 
pleases without assigning any reason for it, or any 
number may leave the main body and carry on a pri- 
vate expedition, in whatever manner they please, 
without being called to an account for their conduct. 

When the Indians return from a successful cam- 
paign, they contrive their march so as not to ap- 
proach their village til! toward me evening. They 
then send two or three forward to acquaint their 
chief and the whole village with the most material 
circumstances of the campaign. At day-light next 
morning they give their prisoners new clothes, paint 
their faces with various colours, and put into their 
hands a white staff, tasselled round with the tails of 
deer This being done, the war captain sets up a 
cry, and gives as many yells as he has taken prison- 
ers and scalps, and the whole village assemble at the 
water side. As soon as the warriors appear, four or 
five of their young men, well clothed, get into a 
canoe, if they come by water, or otherwise march 
by land ; the two first carrying each a calmut, go 
out singing to search the prisoners, whom they lead 



MfDIAN WARg. 



100 



in triumph to the cabin where they are to receive 
their doom. The owner of this cabin has the power 
of determining their fate, though it is often left to some 
woman who has lost her husband, brother, or son, in. 
the war; and wiien this is the case, she generally 
adopts him in the place of the deceased. The pris- 
oner has victuals immediately given him, and whiiehe 
is at his repast, a consultation is held; and if it be re- 
solved to save his life, two young men untie him, and 
taking him by the hands, lead him to the cabin of the 
person into whose family he is to be adopted, and 
there he is received with all imaginable marks of 
kindness. He is treated as a friend, as a brother, or as 
a husband, and they soon love him w ith the same ten- 
derness as if he stood in the place of one of their 
friends. In short, he has no other marks of captivity, 
hut his not being suffered to return to his own nation 5 
•for his attempting this, would be punished with cer- 
tain death. But if the sentence be death, how different 
their conduct ! These people, who behave with such 
disinterested affection to each other^ with such tender- 
ness to those whom they adopt ; here show that they 
are truly savages. The dreadful sentence is no sooner 
passed, than the whole village set up the death-cry ; 
and, as if there was no medium between the most 
generous friendship and the most inhuman cruelty 5 
for the execution of him whom they had just before 
deliberated upon admitting into their tribe, is no 
longer deferred than whilst they can make the neces- 
sary preparations for rioting in the most diabolical 
cruelty. They first strip him, and fixing two posts 
in the ground, fasten to them two pieces from one to 
the other ; one about two feet from the ground, the 
other about live or six feet higher 5 then obliging the 
unhappy victim to mount upon the lower cross-piece, 
they tie his legs to it a little asunder. His hands are 
extended and tied to the angles formed by the upper 
piece. In this posture, they burn him all over the 
body, sometimes first daubing him with pitch. The 
whole village, men, women, and children, assem- 
15 



110 



INDIAN WARS. 



ble round him, every one torturing him in what man- 
ner they please ; each striving to exceed the other in 
cruelty, as long as he has life. But if none of the by- 
standers are inclined to lengthen out his torments, he 
is either shot to death, or enclosed with dry bark, to 
which they set fire ; they then leave him on the frame, 
and in the evening run from cabin to cabin, supers- i- 
tiously striking with small twigs, the furniture, walls, 
and roofs, to prevent his spirit from remaining there 
to take vengeance for the evils committed on his body. 
The remainder of the day and night following, is 
spent in rejoicing. 

This is the most usual method of murdering their 
prisoners. But sometimes they fasten them to a sin- 
gle stake, and build a fire around them. At other 
times, they cruelly mangle their limbs, cut off their 
fingers and toes, joint by joint ; and sometimes, scald 
them to death. 

What is most extraordinary, if the sufferer be an 
Indian, there seems, during the whole time of his ex- 
ecution, a contest between him and his tormentors, 
which shall outdo the other, they in inflicting the most 
horrid pains, or he in enduring them. Not a groan, 
nor a sigh, nor a distortion of countenance, escapes 
him in the midst of his torments. It is even said, 
that he recounts his own exploits, informs them what 
cruelties he has inflicted upon their countrymen, and 
threatens with the revenge that will attend his death. 
That he even reproaches them for their ignorance of 
the art of tormenting ; points out methods of more ex- 
quisite torture, and more sensible parts of the body to 
be afflicted. 

The scalps, those dreadful proofs of the barbarity 
of these Indians, are valued, and hung up in their 
houses as the trophies of their bravery ; and they 
have certain days when the young men gain a new 
name or title of honour, according to the qualities of 
the persons to whom these scalps belonged. This 
name they think a sufficient reward for the dangers 
and fatigues of many campaigns, as it renders them 



INDIAN WARS. 111 

respected by their countrymen, and terrible to their 
enemies. 

In the late American revolution, Britain had the 
inhumanity to reward these sons of barbarity for de- 
predations committed upon those who were struggling 
in the cause of liberty/ It was through their insti- 
gation that the hatchets of the Indians were made 
drunk with American blood ! The widow's wail, the 
virgin's shriek, and infant's trembling cry, was music 
in their ears. In cold blood they sunk their cruel 
tomahawks into the defenceless head of a Miss 
M'Kray, a beautiful girl, who was that very day to 
have been married. The particulars of the inhuman 
transaction follow: Previous to the late war between 
America and Great Britain, a British officer by the 
name of Jones, an accomplished young man, resided 
near Fort Edward. His visits thither became more 
frequent, when he found himself irresistibly drawn 
by charms of native worth and beauty. Bliss M'- 
Kray, whose memory is dear to humanity and true 
affection, was the object of his peregrinations. Mr. 
Jones had not taken the precaution necessary in ha- 
zardous love, but had manifested to the lady by his 
constant attention, undisscmbled and ingenuous de- 
meanour, that ardent affection which a susceptible 
heart compelled her implicitly to return. In this mu- 
tual interchange of passions, they suffered themselves 
to be transported on the ocean of imagination, till the 
unwelcome necessity of a separation cut off every 
springing hope. The war between Great Britain and 
America commenced. A removal from this happy 
spot was in consequence suggested to Mr. Jones, as 
indispensable. Nothing could alleviate their mutual 
horror, but duty ; nothing could allay their recipro- 
cal grief, so as to render a separate corporeal exist- 
ence tolerable, but solemi> vow s, with the ideas of a 
future meeting. Mr. Jones repaired to Canada, where 
all intercourse with the provincials was prohibited. 
Despair,which presented itself in aggravated colours, 
when General Burgoyne's expedition through the 



112 



INDIAN WARS. 



States was fixed, succeeded to his former hopes. The 
British army being encamped about three miles from 
the fort, a descent was daily projected. Here Mr. 
Jones could not but recognize the spot on which 
rested all his joys. He figured to his mind the dread 
which his hostile approach must raise in the breast 
of her, whom of all others, he thought it his highest 
interest to protect. In spite of arrests and commands 
to the contrary 3 he found means secretly to convey a 
letter, entreating her not to leave the town with the 
family, assuring her that as soon as the fort should 
surrender, he would convey her to an asylum where' 
they might peaceably consummate the nuptial cere- 
mony. Far from discrediting the sincerity of him 
who could Hot deceive her 5 she heroically refused to 
follow the flying villagers. The remonstrances of a 
father, or the tearful entreaties of a mother and nu- 
merous friends, could not avail ! It was enough that 
her lover was her friend. She considered herself 
protected by the love and voluntary assurances of her 
youthful hero. With the society of a servant maid 
ghe impatiently waited the desired conveyance. Mr.* 
Jones, finding the difficulty into which he was 
brought, at length, for want of better convoy, hired 
a party of twelve Indians to carry a letter to Miss 
M ? Kray, with his own horse, for the purpose of car- 
rying her to the place appointed. They set off, fired 
with the anticipation of their promised premium, 
which wag to consist of a quantity of spirits, on con- 
dition that they brought her off in safety, which to 
an Indian was the most cogent stimulus the young 
lover could have named. Having arrived in view 
of her window, they sagaciously held up the letter, 
to prevent the fears and apprehensions which a sav- 
age knows he must excite in the sight of tender- 
ness and sensibility. Her faith and expectations en- 
abled her to divine the business of these ferocious 
missionaries, while her frightened maid uttered nought 
but shrieks and cries. They arrived, and by their 
signs, convinced her from whom they had their in- 



INDIAN WARS. 113 



structions. If a doubt could remain, it was removed 
by the letter; it was from her lover. A lock of his 
hair, which it contained, presented his manly figure 
to her gloomy fancy. 

Here, reader, guess what must have been her ec- 
stasy. She indeed resolved to brave even the most 
horrid aspect which might appear between her and 
him, whom she considered already hers, without a 
sigh. She did not for a moment hesitate to follow 
the wishes of her lover ; and took her journey with 
these bloody messengers, expecting very soon to be 
shielded in the arms of legitimate affection. A short 
distance only then seemed to separate two of the 
happiest of mortals. Alas ! how soon are the most 
brilliant pictures of felicity defaced by the burning 
hand of affliction and wo ! How swiftly are the 
halcyon dreams which lull the supine indolence of 
thought, succeeded by the real pangs which are in- 
flicted by a punishing Providence, or a persecuting 
foe! 

Having risen the hill, at about equal distance from 
the, camp and her former home, a second party of In- 
dians, having heard of the captivating offer made by 
Mr. Jones, determined to avail themselves of the op- 
portunity. The reward was the great object. A 
clashing of real and assumed rights was soon follow- 
ed by a furious and bloody engagement, in which se- 
veral were killed on each side. The commander of 
the first party, perceiving that nought but the lady's 
death could appease the fury of either, with a toma- 
hawk deliberately knocked her from her horse, man- 
gled her scalp from her beautiful temples, which he 
exultingly bore as a trophy of zeal to the expectant 
and anxious lover ! f Here, O disappointment, was 
thy sting ! It w as with the utmost difficulty that Mr. 
Jones could be kept from total delirium. His horror 
and indignation could not be appeased ; his remorse 
for having risked his most valuable treasure in the 
hands of savages, drove him almost to madness. 
When the particulars of this melanckoly event reach- 



114 



INDIAN WARS. 



ed Gen. Burgoyne, he ordered the survivors of both 
these parties to immediate execution. 

Many persons suppose that the idea that the Ame- 
rican Indians are descended from the ancient Jews, is 
a novel one. This is not the fact. Many writers 
have suggested this opinion. Among others, James 
Adair, Esq., who had resided among the North Ame- 
rican Indians forty years, and paid particular at- 
tention to their language, laws, customs, manners, 
dress, ceremonies, &,c, and whose account of them 
was published in London in 1775, seems to have been 
fully convinced of the fact himself; and if his argu- 
ments do not convince others, they will at least stag- 
ger their incredulity. The following extract from the 
contents of his work will show the course he takes to 
establish his opinion: 

"Observations and Arguments in proof of the Ame- 
rican Indians being descended from the Jews. 

1. Their division into tribes. 

2. Their worship of Jehovah. 

3. Their notion or a theocracy. 

4. Their belief in the ministration of angels. 

5. Their language and dialects. 

6. Their manner of counting time. 

7. Their prophets and high priests. 

8. Their festivals, fasts, and religious rites. 

9. Their daily sacrifice. 

10. Their ablutions and anointings. 

11. Their laws of uncleanness. 

12. Their abstinence from unclean things. 

13. Their marriages, divorces, and punishment of 
adultery. 

14. Their several punishments. 

15. Their cities of refuge. 

16. Their purifications and ceremonies prepara- 
tory to war. 

17. Their ornaments. 

18. Their manner of curing the sick. 

19. Their burial of the dead. 
Their mourning for their dead. 



INDIAN WARS. 



115 



21. Their raising seed to a departed brother. 

22. Their choice of name adapted to their cir- 
cumstances and the times. 

23: Their own traditions, the accounts of our En- 
glish writers, and the testimonies which the Spanish 
and other authors have given concerning the primitive 
inhabitants of Peru and Mexico." 

Under each of these heads the author gives us such 
facts as a forty years residence among them, at a time 
when their manners, customs, &,c. had not been great- 
ly corrupted or changed by intercourse with Euro- 
peans, had enabled him to collect; and he assures us 
they are "neither disfigured by fable nor prejudice." 
The rest of his work is taken up with accounts of the 
different nations among whom he had been, with oc- 
casional reflections on their laws, Slc. 

The following list of names of the various Indian 
nations in North America, in 1794, with the number 
of their fighting men, was obtained by a gentleman, 
Mr. Benjamin Hawkins, employed in a treaty then 
made with them. 

The Choctaws or Flat Heads, 4560 ; Natches, 150; 
Chickasaws, 750 ; Cherokees, 2500 ; Catabas, 150; 
Piantas, a wandering tribe, 800; Kisquororas, 600 ; 
Hankashaws, 250; Oughtenons,400; Kikapous,500; 
Deiawares, 300; Shawanese, 300 : Miamies, 300 ; 
Upper Creeks, Middle Creeks and Lower Creeks, 
4000; Co wit as, 700; Alabamas, 600; Akinsaws, 
200; Ansaus, 1000; Padomas, 600; white and 
freckled Pianis, 4000 ; Causes, 1600; Osages, 600; 
Grand Saux, 1000; Missouri, 3000; Saux of the 
wood, 1^00; Blances, or white Indians with beard, 
1300; Asinboils, 1500; Christian Cauzes, 3000; 
Guiscousas, 500; Alascotins, 500; Lakes, 400; 
Muheronakes, 230; Folle Avoines or Wildoats, 350; 
Puans, 700; Powatamig, 550 ; Missasagues, wan 
dering tribe, 2000; Otabas, 900; Chipewas, 5000 ; 
Wiandots, 3J0; Six Nations, 15 H) ; R ound Heads, 
2500; Algoquins, 3500$ Nepisians, 4»U0 ; Chaisas, 
13 j; Amitestes, 550; Muckniacks, 700; A bina- 
guis, 350 ; Consway Hurins, 200. Total, 58,780. 



CH4P, VII. 



WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION, 

AND 

DEFEAT OF GEN. BRAD DOCK BY THE INDIANS. 

In 1753 the French and Indians began to make in- 
roads on our western frontiers along the Ohio. Gov- 
ernor Dinwiddie, of Virginia, was very desirous to get 
a letter of remonstrance to their commander in chief, 
He had applied to several young gentlemen of his ac- 
quaintance, but they were all so deficient in courage 
that they could not be prevailed on, for love or mo- 
ney, to venture out among the savages. Our beloved 
Washington happening to hear of it, instantly wait- 
ed on his excellency, and offered his services, but not 
without being terribly afraid lest his want of a beard 
should go against him. However, the governor was 
so charmed with his modesty and manly air, that he 
never asked him a syllable about his age, but after 
thanking him for his offer, calling him "a noble youth? 5 
and insisting on his taking a glass of wine with him, 
slipped a commission into his hand. The next day 
he set out on his expedition,, which was, from start to 
pole, as disagreeable and dangerous as any thing Her- 
cules himself could have wished. Soaking rains, chil- 
ling blasts, roaring floods, pathless woods,' and moun- 
tains clad in snows, opposed his course, but opposed 
in vain. The glorious ambition to serve his country 
imparted an animation to his nerves, which rendered 
him superior to all difficulties. 

Returning homeward, he was way- laid and shot at 
by a French Indian, and though the copper-coloured 
ruffian was not 15 steps distant when he fired at him, 
yet not even so much as the smell of lead passed on 
the clothes of our young hero. On his return to Vir- 
ginia, it was found that he had executed his negocia- 
tions, both with the French and Indians, with such 



117 



fidelity and judgment, that he received the heartiest 
thanks of the governor and council for the very im- 
portant services he had done his country. 

He was now fin the 20ih year of his age) appoint- 
ed major and adjutant general of the Virginia forces. 
Soon after this, the Indians continuing their encroach- 
ments, orders were given by the English government, 
for the colonies to arm and unite in one confederacy. 
Virginia took the lead, and raised a regiment of four 
hundred men, at the head of which she placed her 
darling Washington. 

With this handful of brave fellows, Col. Washing- 
ton, not yet 23 years of age, boldly pushed out into 
the Indian country, and there for a considerable time, 
Hannibal like, maintained the war against three times 
the number of French and Indians. At the Red- 
Stones he came up with a strong part of the enemy, 
whom he engaged and effectually defeated, after 
having killed and taken 31 men. From his prisoners 
he obtained undoubted intelligence, that the French 
forces on the Ohio consisted of upwards of a thousand 
regulars and many hundreds of Indians. But, not- 
withstanding this disheartening advice, he still pressed 
on undauntedly against the enemy, and at a place 
called the Little Meadows. built a fort which he called 
Fort Necessity. Here he waited, hourly and anx- 
iously looking for succours from New- York and Penn- 
sylvania ; but he looked in vain. M obody came to 
his assistance. Not long after this, his small force, 
now reduced to three hundred men, were attacked by 
an army of S 100 French and Indians. Never did the 
true Virginian valour shine more gloriously than on 
this trying occasion. 

To see three hundred young fellows, commanded 
by a smooth faced boy, all unaccustomed to the ter- 
rors of war, far from home, and from all hopes of help, 
shut up in a dreary wilderness, and surrounded by 
four times their number of savage foes ; and yet, with- 
out sign of fear, without thought of surrender, prepar- 
ing for mortal combat. Oh ! it was a noble sight ! 



118 



INDIAN WARS, 



Scarcely since the flays of Leonidas and his three 
hundred deathless Spartans^ had the safi beheld its 

equal. With hideous whoops end yells the enemy 
carne on like a host of tigers. The woods and roei s, 
and tall tree tops fas the Indians climbing to the tops 
of the trees, poured down their bullets into the fort) 
were in one continued blaze and crash of fire arms. 
Nor were our young warriors idle but animated by 
their gallant chief, plied their rifles wi h such sj hit 
that their little fort resembled a volcano in foli bias f , 
roaring and discharging thick sheets of liquid f re and 
of leaden deaths among their foes. For three glorious 
hours,salaniander like, enveloped in smoke and flame, 
they sustained the attack of the enemy's whole forc e, 
and laid two hundred of them dead on the spot! Dis- 
couraged by such desperate resistance, the French 
general, the Count de Viiiiers,sent in a flag to Wash- 
ington, extolling his gallantry to the skies, and offer- 
ing him the most honourable terms. It was stipulated 
that Col. Washington and his little band of heroes, 
should march away with all the honours of war, and 
carry with them their military stores and baggage. 

In the spring of 1755 Wash i ngton, while busied in 
the highest military operations, was summoned to 
attend Cen. Braddock, who in the month of February, 
had arrived at Alexandria with 2000 British troops. 
The assembly of Virginia appointed 800 provincials 
to join him. The object of this army was to march 
through the country, by the way of Will's Creek, to 
fort Duquesne (now Pittsburgh, or fort Pitt. J As 
no person was so well acquainted with the frontier 
country as Washington, and none stood so high in 
military fame, it. was thought he would be infinitely 
serviceable to Gen. Braddock. At the request of 
the governor and council he cheerfully quitted his own 
command, to act as volunteer aid-de-camp to that 
very imprudent and unfortunate general. The army, 
near 3000 strong, marched from Alexandria and 
proceeded unmolested within a few miles of fort Pitt. 
On the morning of the 9th of July, when they had 
arrived within laevea miles of fort Duquesne, the pro- 



VIDIAN WAR*. 



119 



vincial scouts discovered a large party of French and 
Indians lying in ambush. Wash jngton, with his 
usual modestv observed to Gen. Braddock what sort 
of enemy he had now to deal with. An enemy who 
would not, like the Europeans, come forward to a 
fair contest in the Held, but, concealed behind rocks 
and trees, carry on a deadly warfare with their rifles. 
He concluded with begging that Gen. Braddock 
would grant him the honour to let him place himself 
at the head of the Virginia riflemen, and fight them 
in their own way. And it was generally thought that 
our young hero and his 800 hearts of hickory, would 
very easily have beaten them too, for they were not 
superior to the force, which with only 300, he had 
handled so roughly a twelve month before. But 
Gen. Braddock, who had ail along treated the Amer- 
ican officers and soldiers with infinite contempt, in- 
stead of following this truly salutary advice, sw elled 
and reddened with most unmanly rage. u High times, 
by G — d! 5? he exclaimed, strutting to and fro, with 
arms akimbo, " High times ! when a young buckskin 
can teach a British General how to fight !" Wash- 
ington withdrew, biting his lips with grief and indig- 
nation, to think what numbers of brave fellows w ould 
draw r short breath that day, through the pride and 
obstinacy of one epauletted fool. The troops were 
ordered to form and advance in columns through the 
woods ! ! In a li tle time the ruin which Washington 
had predicted ensued. This poor devoted army, 
pushed on by their mad-cap general, fell into the 
fatal snare which was laid for them. All at once 
a thousand rifles began the work of death. The 
ground was instantly covered with the dying and the 
dead. The British troops, thus slaughtered by hun- 
dreds, and by an enemy whom they could not see, 
were thrown irrecoverably into panic and confusion, 
and in a few minutes their haughty general, with 
1290 of his brave but unfortunate countrymen, bit 
the ground. Poor Braddock closed the tragedy 
with great decency. He was mortally wounded in 
the beginning of the action, and Washington had 



120 



ItfPIAf* WAES. 



him placed in a cart ready for retreat. Close on tho 
left, where the weight of the French and Indian lire 
principally fell, Washington and his Virginia riflemen 
dressed in blue, sustained the shock. At every dis 
charge of their rifles the wounded general cried 
out, " O my brave Virginia blues ! Would to God I 
could live to reward you for such gallantry. 55 Em he 
died. Washington buried him in the road, and to 
save him from discovery and the scalping knife, order- 
ed the wagons on their retreat to drive over his grave ! 

0 God ! what is man? Even a thing of nought ! ! 
Amidst all this fearful consternation and carnage, 

amidst all the uproar and horrors of a rout, rendered 
still more dreadful by the groans of the dying, the 
screams of the wounded, the piercing shrieks of the 
women, and the yells of the furious assaulting sav- 
ages, Washington, calm and self-collected rallied his 
faithful riflemen, led them on to the charge, killed 
numbers of the enemy who were rushing on with 
tomahawks, checked their pursuit and brought off the 
shattered remains of the British army. 

With respect to our beloved Washington, we 
cannot but mention here two extraordinary speeches 
that were uttered about him at this time, and which, 
as things have turned out, look a great deal like proph- 
ecies. A famous Indian warrior who assisted in the 
defeat of Braddock, was often heard to swear, that 
" Washington was not born to be killed by a bullet, 
for, 55 continued he, "1 had 17 fair fires at him with 
my rifle, and after all I could not bring him to the 
ground. 55 And, indeed, whoever considers that a 
good rifle levelled by a proper marksman, hardly 
ever misses its aim, will readily enough conclude with 
this unlettered savage, that some invisible hand must 
have turned aside his bullets. 

The Rev. Mr. Davis, in a sermon occasioned by 
Gen. Braddock 5 s defeat, has these remarkable words} 
" I beg leave to point the attention of the public to 
that heroic youth, Col. George Wash ington, whom 

1 cannot but hope Providence has preserved for some 
grfcsst • evicts* to his c&uniry." 



CHAPTER VIIL 



OF CAPT. DANIEL BOON, COMPRISING 
AJT ACCOUNT OF THE WARS WITH THE INDIANS 
ON THE OHIO, FROM 1769 TO 1782. 

WRITTEN BY HIMSELF. 

u It was on the first of May, 1769, that I resigned 
my domestic happiness, and left my family and peace- 
able habitation on the Yadkin river in North Carolina 
to wander through the wilderness of America, in 
quest of the country of Kentucky, in company with 
John Finley, John Stuart, Joseph Holden, James 
Monay and William Cool. 

"On the 7th June, after travelling in a western 
direction, we found ourselves on Red river, where 
John Finley had formerly been trading with the In- 
dians, and from the top of an eminence saw with 
pleasure the beautiful level of Kentucky. For some 
time we had experienced the most uncomfortable 
weather. We now encamped, made a shelter to 
defend us from the inclement season, and began to 
hunt and reconnoitre the country. We found abun- 
dance of wild beasts in this vast forest. The buffa- 
loes were more numerous than cattle on their settle- 
ments, browsing on the leaves of the cane, or cross- 
ing the herbage on these extensive plains. W r e saw 
hundreds in a drove, and the numbers about the salt 
springs were amazing. In this forest, the habitation 
of beasts of every American kind, we hunted with 
great success until December. 

"On the 22d December John Stuart and I had a 
pleasing ramble; but fortune changed the day at the 



122 



INDIAN WARS. 



close of it. We passed through a great forest, in 
which stood myriads of trees, some gay with blossom, 
others rich with fruits. Nature was here a series of 
wonders and a fund of delight. Here she displayed 
her ingenuity and industry in a variety of flowers and 
fruits, beautifully coloured, elegantly shaped, and 
charmingly flavoured $ and we were favoured with 
numberless animals presenting themselves perpetually 
to our view. In the decline of the day, near Kentucky 
river, as we ascended the brow of a small hill, a 
number of Indians rushed out of a cane brake and 
made us prisoners. The Indians plundered us and kept 
us in confinement seven days. During this time we dis- 
covered no uneasiness or desire to escape, w hich made 
them less suspicious ; but in the dead of night, as 
we lay by a large fire in a thick cane break, when 
sleep had locked up their senses, my situation not 
disposing me to rest, I gently awoke my companion. 
We seized this favourable opportunity and departed, 
directing our course toward the old camp, but found 
it plundered and our company destroyed or dispersed, 
"About this time as my brother with another adven- 
turer who came to explore the country shortly af- 
ter us, was wandering through the forest, they acci- 
dentally found onr camp. Notwithstanding our un- 
fortunate circumstances, and our dangerous situation, 
surrounded with hostile savages, our meeting for- 
tunately in the wilderness gave us the most sensible 
satisfaction. 

" Soon after this my companion in captivity, John 
Stuart, was killed by the savages, and the man v ho 
came with my brother, while on a private excursion, 
was soon after attacked and killed by the wolves. 
We were now in a dangerous and helpless situation, 
exposed daily to perils and deaths, among savages and 
wild beasts, not a white man in the country but our- 
selves 

Although manv hundred m'les from our families, 
in the howling wilderness, we did not continue in a 
state of indolence, but hunted every day, and pre- 



INDIAN WARS. 



123 



pared a little cottage to defend us from the winter. 
On the 1st of May, 1770, my brother returned home, 
for a new recrt it of horses and ammunition, leaving rue 
aione, w Lhout bread, salt or sugar, or even a horse or 
a do^. I passed a few days uncomfortably. The 
ide.i of a beloved wife a d family, and their anxiety 
on thy account, would have disposed me to melan- 
choly if i had lurther indulged the thought. 

" One day I undertook a tour through the country, 
w hen the diversity and beauties of nature I met v ith in 
this charming season expelled every gloomy thought. 
Just at the close of the day the gentle gales ceased; 
a profound calm ensued; not a breath shook the 
tremulous leaf. I had gained the summit of a com- 
manding ridge, and looking around with astonishing 
delight beheld the ample plains and beauteous tracts 
below. On one hand I surveyed the famous Ohio 
rolling in silent dignity. and marking the western boun- 
dary of Kentucky with inconceivable grandeur. At a 
vast distance I beheld the mountains lift their venera- 
ble brows and penetrate the clouds. All things were 
still. I kindled a lire near a fountain of sweet water, 
and feasted on the line of a buck which I had killed 
a few hours before. The shades of night soon * 
overspread the hemisphere, and the earth seemed to 
gasp after the hovering moisture. At a distance I 
frequently heard the hideous yells of savages. My 
excursion had fatigued my body and amused my mind. 
I laid me down to sleep, and awoke not until the sun 
had chased away the night. 3 continued this tour, 
and in a few days explored a considerable part of the 
country, each dav equally pleasing as the first. After 
which I returned to my old camp, which had not been 
disturbed in my absence. I did not confine my lodg- 
ing to it, but often reposed in thick cane brakes to 
avoid the savages, who 1 beleive frequently visited my 
camp, but fortunately for me in my absence. No 
populous city, with all its varieties of commerce and 
stately structures, could afford so much pleasure to 
my mind as the beauties oi nature I found in this 
country. 



124 



t&DiAB WARS* 



"Until the 27th July I spent my time in an unin- 
terrupted scene of sylvan pleasures, when my brother, 
to my great felicity, met me, according to appoint- 
ment, at our old camp. Soon after we left the place 
and proceeded to Cumberland river, reconnoitring 
that part of the country, and giving names to the dif- 
ferent rivers. 

u In March, 1771, I returned home to my family, 
being determined to bring them as soon as possible, at 
the risk of my life and fortune, to reside in Kentucky, 
which I esteemed a second paradise. 

" On my return I found my family in happy circum- 
stances. 1 sold my farm on the Yadkin, and what 
goods we could not carry with us, and on the 25th of 
September, 1773, we took leave of our friends and 
proceeded on our journey to Kentucky, in company 
with live more families, and forty men that joined us 
in PowePs Valley, which is 150 miles from the new 
settled parts of Kentucky. But this promising be- 
ginning was soon overcast with a cloud of adver- 
sity. 

"On the 10th of October the rear of our company 
was attacked by a party of Indians; who killed six, 
and wounded one man. Of these my oldest son was 
one that fell in the action. Though we repulsed the 
enemy, yet this unhappy affair scattered our cattle 
and brought us into extreme difficulty. We returned 
forty miles to the settlement on Clench river. We 
had passed over two mountains, Fowel and Wal- 
den's, and were approaching Cumberland mountain, 
when this adverse fortune overtook us. These moun- 
tains are in the wilderness, in passing from the old 
settlement in Virginia to Kentucky ; are ranged in a 
south-west and north-east direction ; are of great 
length and breadth, and not far distant from each 
other. Over them nature hath formed passes less 
difficult than might be expected from the view of 
such huge piles. The aspect of these cliffs are so 
wild and horrid, that it is impossible to behold them 
without horror. 



INDIAN WAR*. 



125 



"Until the 6th Jane, 1774, I remained with my 
family on the Clench, when I and another person 
were solicited by Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, to 
conduct a number of surveyors to the falls of Ohio. 
This was a tour of 800 miles, and took us sixty-two 
days. 

" On my return, Gov. Dunmore gave me the com- 
mand of three garrisons during the campaign against 
the Shawaaese. In March, 1775, at the solicitation 
of a number of gentlemen of North-Carolina, I at- 
tended their treaty at Wataga, with the Cherokee 
Indians, to purchase the lands on the south side of 
Kentucky river. After this, I undertook to mark out 
a road in the best passage from the settlements 
through the wilderness to Kentucky. 

" Having collected a number of enterprising men 
well armed, I soon began this work. We proceeded 
until we came within 15 miles of where JJoonsbor- 
ough now stands, where the Indians attacked us, and 
killed two and wounded two more of our party. This 
was on the 2 2d March, 1775. Two days after we 
were again attacked by them, when we had two more 
killed and three wounded. After this we proceeded 
on to Kentucky river without opposition. 

"•On the 1st April we began to erect the fort of 
Boonsborough, at a salt lick, sixty yards from the 
river on the south side. On the 4th the Indians 
killed one of our men. On the 14th June, having 
completed the fort, I returned to my family on the 
Clench, and whom I soon after removed to the fort. 
My wife and daughter were supposed to be the 
first white women that ever stood upon the banks of 
Kentucky river. 

" On the 24th December the Indians killed one of 
our men and wounded another ; and on the 15th 
July 1776, they took my daughter prisoner. I imme- 
diately pursued them with eight men, and on the 
18th overtook and engaged them. 1 killed two of 
them and recovered my daughter. 
17 



126 



JKDIAN WARS. 



" The Indians, having divided themselves into sev- 
eral parties, attacked in one day all our infant settle- 
ments and forts, doing a great deal of damage. The 
husbandmen were ambushed and unexpectedly at- 
tacked while toiling in the field. They continued 
this kind of warfare until the 15th April, 1777, 
when nearly 100 of them attacked the village of 
Boonsborough, and killed a number of its inhabitants. 
On the 19th Colonel Logan's fort was attacked by 
200 Indians. There were only 13 men in the fort, 
of whom the enemy killed two and wounded one. 

"On the 20th August Col. Bowman arrived with 
100 men from Virginia, with which additional force 
we had almost daily skirmishes with the Indians, 
who began now to learn the superiority of the "long 
knife, " as they termed the Virginians ; being out- 
generaled in almost every action. Our affairs began 
now to wear a better aspect, the Indians no longer 
daring to face us in the open field, but sought private 
opportunities to destroy us. 

" On the 7th Feb ruary, 1778, while on a hunting 
excursion alone, I met a party of 102 Indians and 
two Frenchmen, marching to attack Boonsborough. 
They pursued and took me prisoner, and conveyed 
me to Old Chilicothe, the principal Indian town on 
little Miami, where we arrived on the 18th February, 
after an uncomfortable journey. On the 10th March 
I was conducted to Detroit, and while there was 
treated with great humanity by Governor Hamilton, 
the British commander at that port, and intendant 
for Indian affairs. 

"The Indians had such an affection for me that 
they refused 100/, sterling offered them by the Govern- 
or, if they would consent to leave me with him, that he 
might be enabled to liberate me on my parole. Sev- 
eral English gentlemen then at Detroit, sensible of 
my adverse fortune, and touched with sympathy, 
generously offered to supply my wants, which I declin- 
ed with many thanks, adding that I never expected it 



INDIAN WARS. 



127 



would be in my power to recompense such unmerited 
generosity. 

a On the 10th April the Indians returned with me 
to Old Chilicothe, where we arrived on the 25th. 
Tiiis was a long and fatiguing march, although 
through an exceeding fertile country, remarkable for 
springs and streams of water. At Chilicothe I spent 
-my time as comfortable as I could expect 5 was adopt- 
ed, according to their custom, into a family where 
I became a son, and had a great share in the affection 
of my new parents, brothers, sisters and friends. I 
was exceedingly familiar and friendly with them, 
always appearing as cheerful and contented as possi- 
ble, and they put great confidence in me. I often 
went a hunting with them, and frequently gained 
their applause for my activity at our shooting match- 
es. I was careful not to exceed many of them in 
shooting, for no people are more envious than they in 
this sport. I could observe in their countenances 
And gestures the greatest expressions of joy when 
they exceeded me, and when the reverse happened, 
of envy. The Shawanese king took great notice of 
me, and treated me with profound respect and entire 
friendship, often entrusting me to hunt at my liberty. 
1 frequently returned with the spoils of the woods, 
and as often presented some of what 1 had taken to 
him, expressive of duty to my sovereign. My food 
and lodging was in common with them, not so good 
indeed as I could desire, but necessity made every 
thing acceptable. 

" I now began to meditate an escape, and carefully 
avoided giving suspicion. I continued at Chilicothe 
until the first day of June, when 1 was taken to the 
salt springs on Sciotha, and there employed ten days 
in the manufacturing of salt. During this time I hunt- 
ed with my Indian masters, and found the land for 
a great extent about this river to exceed the soil of 
Kentucky. 

" On my return to Chilicothe 150 of the choicest 
Indian warriors were ready to march against Boons- 



INDIA* WARS 



borough. They were painted and armed in a fright- 
ful manner. This alarmed me and I determined to 
escape. 

" On the 16th June, before sun-rise, I went off se- 
cretly, and reached Boonsborough on the 50th, a 
journey of 160 miles, during which 1 had only one 
meal. I found our fortress in a bad state, but we 
immediately repaired our flanks, gates, posterns, and 
formed double bastions, which we completed in ien 
days. One of my fellow prisoners escaped a* j er 
me, and brought advice that on account of my flight, 
the Indians had put off their expedition for three 
weeks. 

"About the first of August I set out with 19 men 
to surprise Point Creek-Town on Sciotha, within four 
miles of which we fell in with 40 Indians going 
against Boonsborough. We attacked them, and 
they soon gave way without any loss on our part. 

The enemy had one killed and two wounded. We 
took three horses and all their baggage. The Indians 
having evacuated their town, and gone altogether 
against Boonsborough, we returned, passed them on 
the 6th, and on the 7th arrived safe at Boonsborough. 

1 ' On the Sth the Indian army, consisting of 444 men, 
under the command of Capt. Duquesne, and eleven 
other Frenchmen and their own chiefs, arrived and 
summoned the fort to surrender. I requested tv*o 
days consideration, which was granted. During this 
we brought in through the posterns all the horses and 
other cattle we could collect. 

" On the 9th, in the evening, I informed their 
commander that we were determined to defend the 
fort while a man was living. They then proposed 
a treaty, and said if we sent out nine men to con- 
clude it, they would withdraw. The treaty was 
held within sixty yards of the fort, as we suspected 
the savages. The articles were agreed to and signed; 
when the Indians told us it was their custom for 
two Indians to shake hands with every white 



INDIAN WARS. 



129 



man in the treaty, as an evidence of friendship. We 
agreed to this also. They immediately grappled us 
to take us prisoners, but we cleared ourselves of 
them, though surrounded by hundreds, and gained 
the fort safe, except one man who was wounded by a 
heavy fire from the enemy. 

" The savages now began to undermine the fort, 
beginning at the water mark of Kentucky river, 
which is sixty yards from the fort ; this we discovered 
by the water being made muddy by the clay. We 
countermined them by cutting a trench across their 
subterraneous passage. The enemy discovering this 
by the clay we threw out of the fort, desisted. On 
the 20th August they raised the seige, during which 
we had two men killed and four wounded. We lost 
a number of cattle. The loss of the enemy was 37 
killed, and a much larger number wounded. We 
picked up 125 pounds of their bullets, besides what 
stuck in the logs of the fort. 

"In July, 1779, during niy absence,Col. Bowman, 
with 160 men, went against the Shawanese of Old 
Chiiicothe. He arrived undiscovered. A battle en- 
sued which lasted until ten in the morning, when 
Col. Bowman retreated 30 miles. The Indians col- 
lected ail their strength and pursued him, when 
another engagement ensued for two hours, not to Coh 
Bowman's advantage. Col. Harrod proposed to 
mount a number of horses and break the enemy's 
line, who at this time fought with remarkable fury. 
This desperate measure had a happy effect, and the 
savages fled on all sides. In these two engagements 
we had nine men killed and one wounded. Enemy's 
loss uncertain. Only tw r o scalps were taken. 

"June 23d, 1780, 500 Indians and Canadians un- 
der Col. Bird attacked Riddle and Martin's station, 
and the forks of Licking river with six pieces of artil- 
lery. They took all the inhabitants captives, and 
killed one man and two women, loading the others 
with the heavy baggage, and such as failed in the 
journey w ere tomahawked. 



130 



INDIAN WARS. 



The hostile disposition of the savages caused Gen- 
eral Clark, the commandant at the falls of Ohio, to 
march with his regiment and the armed force of the 
country against Peccaway, the principal town of the 
Shawanese, on a branch of the great Miami, which 
he attacked with great success, took seventy scalps, 
and reduced the town to ashes, with the loss of 17 
men. 

"About this time I returned to Kentucky with my 
family ; for during my captivity, my wife thinking 
me killed by the Indians, had transported my fami- 
ly and goods on horses through the wilderness, 
amidst many dangers, to her father's house in North 
Carolina. 

u On the 6th October, 1780, soon after my set- 
tling again at Boonsborough, I went with my brother 
to the Blue Licks, and on our return he was shot by 
a party of Indians, who followed me by the scent of 
a dog, which 1 shot and escaped. The severity of 
the winter caused great distress in Kentucky, the 
enemy during the summer having destroyed most of 
the corn. The inhabitants lived chiefly on buffaloe's 
flesh. 

" In the spring of 1782 the Indians harrassed us. 
In May they ravished, killed and scalped a woman 
and her two daughters near Ashton's station, and 
took a negro prisoner. Capt. Ashton pursued them 
with 25 men, and in an engagement which lasted two 
hours, his party were obliged to retreat, having eight 
killed and four mortally wounded. Their brave com- 
mander fell in the action. 

"August 18th, two boys were carried off from 
Major Hoy's station. Capt. Holder pursued the en- 
emy with 17 men, who were also defeated, with the 
loss of seven killed and two wounded. Our affairs 
became more and more alarming. The savages in- 
fested the country and destroyed the whites as op- 
portunity presented. In a field near Lexington an 
Indian shot a man, and running to scalp him, was 
himself shot from the fort^ and fell dead upon the 



INDIAN WARS. 



131 



ground. All the Indian nations were now united 
against us. 

- August 15th, 500 Indians and Canadians came 
against Briat's station, five miles from Lexington. 
They assaulted the fort and killed all the cattle 
round it 5 but being repulsed, they retired the third 
day, having about 80 killed 5 their wounded uncer- 
tain. The garrison had four killed and nine 
wounded. 

" August 18th, Colonels Todd and Trigg, Major 
Harland and myself, speedily collected 176 men, well 
armed, and pursued the savages. They had march- 
ed beyond the Blue Licks, to a remarkable bend of 
the main fork of Licking River, about 43 miles from 
Lexington, where we overtook them on the 19th. 

'he savages observing us, gave way, and we ignorant 
of their numbers, passed the river. When they saw 
our proceedings, having greatly the advantage in sit- 
uation, they formed their line of battle from one end 
of the Licking to the other, about a mile from the 
Blue Licks. The engagement was close and warm 
for about fifteen minutes, when we, being overpow- 
ered by numbers, were obliged to retreat, with the 
loss of 67 men, 7 of whom were taken prisoners. 
The brave and much lamented Colonels Todd and 
Trigg, Major Harland, and my second son were 
among the dead. We were afterwards informed 
that the Indians on numbering their dead finding 
that they had four more killed than we, four of our 
people they had taken were given up to their young 
warriors, to be put to death after their barbarous 
manner. 

" On our retreat we were met by Col. Logan, who 
was hastening to join us with a number of well 
armed men. This powerful assistance we wanted 
on the day of battle. The enemy said one more fire 
from us would have made them give way. 

" I cannot reflect upon this dreadful scene, without 
great sorrow. A zeal for the defence of their coun- 
try led these heroes to the scene of action, though 



132 



INDIAN WARS. 



with a few men, to attack a powerful army of experi- 
enced warriors. When we gave way, they pursued us 
with the utmost eagerness, and in every quarter spread 
destruction. The river was difficult to cross, and 
many were killed in the flight, some just entering t lie 
river, some in the water, others after crossing in as- 
cending the cliffs. Some escaped on horseback, a few 
on foot ; and being dispersed every where, in a few 
hours, brought the melancholy news of this unfortu- 
nate battle to Lexington. Many widows were now 
made. The reader may guess what sorrow filled the 
hearts of the inhabitants, exceeding any thing that I 
am able to describe. Being reinforced, we returned 
to bury the dead, and found their bodies strewed 
every w here, cut and mangled in a dreadful manner. 
This mournful scene exhibited a horror almost un- 
paralleled: some torn and eaten by wild beasts; 
those in the river eaten by fishes ; all in such a pu- 
trid condition that no one could be distinguished from 
another. 

"When Gen. Clark, at the falls of Ohio, heard of 
our disaster, he ordered an expedition to pursue the 
savages. We overtook them within two miles of 
their town, and we should have obtained a great vic- 
tory had not some of them met us when about £00 
poles from their camp. The savages fled in the ut- 
most disorder, and evacuated all their towns. We 
burned to ashes Old Chilicothe, Peccaway, New 
Chilicothe, and Wills Town ; entirely destroyed their 
corn and other fruits 5 and spread desolation through 
their country. We took seven prisoners and fifteen 
scalps, and lost only four men, two of whom were ac- 
cidentally killed by ourselves. This campaign damp- 
ed the enemy, yet they made secret incursions. 

"In October a party attacked Crab Orchard, and 
one of them being a good way before the other, bold- 
ly entered a house in which were only a woman and 
her children, and a negro man. The savage used no 
violence, but attempted to carry off the negro, who, 
happily proved too strong for him, and threw him on 



INDIAN WARS. 



133 



the ground, and in the struggle the woman cut offhis 
head with an axe, whilst her little daughter shut the 
door. The savages instantly came up and applied 
their tomahawks to the door, when the mother put- 
ting an old rusty gun barrel through the crevices the 
savages immediately went off. 

"From that time till the happy return of peace 
between the United States and Great Britain, the In- 
dians did us no mischief. Soon after this the Indians 
desired peace. 

" Two darling sons and a brother I have lost by 
savage hands, which have also taken from me 40 val- 
uable horses and abundance of cattle. Many dark 
and sleepless nights have I spent, separated from the 
cheerful society of men, scorched by the summer's 
sun, and pinched by the winter's cold, an instrument 
ordained to settle the wilderness. 

"DANIEL BOON. 

66 Fayette County, Kentucky.'' 

18 



CHAPTER IX. 



EXPEDITION OF GEN. HARMER AND HIS DEFEAT BY 
THE INDIANS. 

Although a peace was at length happily effected 
between the two contending parties, Great Britain 
and America, in 1785, yet the savages who had been 
persuaded to take a part with the former, were un- 
willing to bury the bloody hatchet. They had not 
sufficiently bathed that destructive weapon in the 
blood of Americans. Without any pretext whatever, 
they continued to exercise toward them the most wan- 
ton acts of barbarity. It appeared from respectable 
evidence, that from the year 1783, until the month of 
October 1790, the time the United States commenced 
offensive operations against the said Indians, that on 
the Ohio, and the frontiers on the south side thereof, 
they killed, wounded and took prisoners 1500 men, 
women and children, besides carrying off upwards of 
£000 horses, and other property to the amount of 
$50,000. 

The particulars of many of the instances of barbar- 
ity exercised upon the prisoners, of different ages and 
sexes, although supported by indisputable evidence, 
are of too shocking a nature to be presented to the 
public. It is sufficient here to observe that the scalp- 
ing knife and tomahawk were the mildest instruments 
of death. That in some cases torture by fire, and 
other execrable means were used. 

But the outrages which were committed upon the 
frontier inhabitants were not the only injuries that 
were sustained. Repeated attacks upon detachments 
of the troops of the United States were at different 
times made. The following from its peculiar enor- 
mity deserves recital. In April, 1790, Major Dough- 
ty, in service of the United States, was ordered to the 
friendly Chicasaws on public business. He perform- 



WAR*. 



135 



ed this duty in a boat, having with him a party of fif- 
teei* men. While ascending the Tenessee river he 
was met by a party of Indians, in four canoes, consist- 
ing principally of Shawanese and out-cast Cherokees. 
They approached under a w hite flag, the well known 
emblem of peace. They came on board the Major's 
boat, received his presents, continued with him nearly 
an hour, and then departed in the most friendly man- 
ner. But they had scarcely cleared his oars, be- 
fore they poured in a fire upon his crew, which w r as 
returned as soon as circumstances would permit, and 
a most unequal combat was sustained for several 
hours', when they abandoned their design, but not un- 
til they had killed and wounded eleven out ofiifteen of 
the boat's crew. 

All overtures of peace failing, and the depredations 
still continuing, an attempt at coercion became indis- 
pensable. Accordingly, on the 30th September, 1790, 
the President, by and with the consent and advice of 
the Congress of the United States, despatched Gen. 
Manner, with 320 federal troops and 1133 militia 
under his command, to attack and destroy their prin- 
cipal villages. 

The troops, after seventeen days march from Mi- 
ami, reached the great Miami village, without any 
other molestation than that of having a number of 
their pack-horses stolen. On their arrival they found 
the village deserted, and all the valuable buildings in 
flames, set on fire by the Indians. After a short tarry 
they proceeded to the neighbouring villages, with- 
out molestation, and destroyed five of them, and a 
large quantity of com which they found buried indif- 
ferent places ; and very large quantities of vegetables 
of every kind. 

The first opposition that was met with, a party of 
about 150 Kentucky militia, and 80 regular troops, 
all under the command of Col. Harding,of Kentucky, 
were detached from the main body lying in the great 
Miami village, to pursue the trail of a party of Indians 
which had the day before been discovered. After & 



136 



INDIAN WARS. 



pursuit of about six miles they came up witfi, and 
were attacked on surprise by a body of Indians who 
were concealed in the thickets on every side of a large 
plain; and on the first onset the militia without ex- 
changing a single shot, made a most precipitate re- 
treat and left the regular troops to stand the whole 
charge of the Indians. The conflict was short and 
bloody. The troops were soon overpowered by num- 
bers, and all fell except two or three officers, and 
two or three privates, after defending themselves at 
their bayonet points with the greatest possible ob- 
stinacy. Ensign Hartshorn was one of the officers 
who providentially escaped, and his escape appeared 
to depend mofe on a lucky circumstance of faltering 
over a log, in his retreat, and by that means screen- 
ing himself from the eye of his pursuers, than from 
any other circumstance. Capt. Armstrong, who com- 
manded the party, likewise made his escape, by 
plunging himself into a pond or swamp up to his neck, 
within 200 yards of the field of action, where he re- 
mained the whole night a spectator to the horrid 
scene of the war dance, performed over the dead and 
wounded bodies of the poor soldiers that had fallen 
the preceding day ; where their shrieks, mixed with 
the horrid yells of the savages, rendered his situation 
shocking. 

After this some few skirmishes succeeded, but noth- 
ing material, until the second capital action, which hap- 
pened tw r o days after the army left the Miami village. 
At ten miles distance from the town, the general or- 
dered a halt, and detached from four to five hundred 
militia, and about sixty regular soldiers, under the 
command of Major Wylleys and Col. Harding^ 
who were ordered to march back to the town. On 
their first entrance there appeared a small body of 
Indians, who immediately fled at the first onset, and 
by that means decoyed the whole body of the militia, 
by making their flight in different directions, and en- 
couraging the militia to pursue. By this stratagem 
the few regular troops were left alone, and the In- 



INDIAN WARS. 



4 

137 



dians had effected their design, for the moment they 
found the small handful of regular troops detached 
from the main body of the militia, they commenced 
the attack with their whole force, excepting their fly- 
ing parties that had divided the militia ; and although 
they soon found some part of the militia returning 
on their backs, pursued their object of routing and 
destroying the troops, as the only sure plan of suc- 
cess ; which, after a most bloody conflict on each side, 
they effected. 

Nothing could exceed the intrepidity of the sav- 
ages on this occasion. The militia they appeared to 
despise, and with all the undauntedness conceivable, 
threw down their guns and rushed upon the bayonets 
of the regular soldiers. A number of them fell, but 
being so far superior in numbers, the regulars were 
soon overpowered, for while the poor soldier had his 
bayonet in one Indian, two more would sink their 
tomahawks in his head. The defeat of the troops 
was complete. The dead and wounded were left on 
the field of action in possession of the savages. 

The following is a copy of the official return of the 
killed and wounded in the expedition: 

Killed of the federal troops, 1 Major, 1 Lieutenant, 
73 rank and file; total, 75. Wounded, 3 rank and 
file. 

Killed of the militia, 1 Major, 3 Captains, 2 Lieu- 
tenants, 4 Ensigns, 93 rank and file 5 total, 108. 
Wounded, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 22 rank and 
file ; total, 2S. 

The regular troops all to nine, including two com- 
missioned officers, were killed. Among the slain was 
Major Wvieys, and a number of brave and valuable 
soldiers. The Indians, it appeared, from some cause, 
did not think it prudent to pursue their successes from 
the field of action, as most of the troops that were 
not killed or badly wounded made their escape, which 
they could not have effected had the enemy pursued 
with their usual fury. 



CHAPTER X. 



DEFEAT OF* GEN. ST. CLAIR BY THE INDIANS. 



GEN. ST. CLAIR TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

Fort Washington, Nov. 9, 1731. 

« Sir, 

" Yesterday afternoon the remains of the army 
under my command got back to this place, and I have 
now the painful task to give an account of awarm,and 
as unfortunate an action as almost any that has been 
fought, in which every corps was engaged and worst- 
ed, except the first regiment, that had been detached 
upon a service that I had the honour to inform you of 
in my last despatch, and had not joined me. 

"On the 3d inst. the army had reached a creek 
about twelve yards wide running to the southward of 
west, which I believe to have been the river St. Mary, 
that empties into the Miami of the lake, arrived at 
the village about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, having 
marched near nine miles, and were immediately en- 
camped upon a very commanding piece of ground in 
two lines, having the above mentioned creek in front. 
The right wing, composed of Butler, Clark and Pat- 
terson's battalions, commanded by Major General 
Butler, formed the first line ; and the left wing, con- 
sisting of Bedinger and Gaither's battalions, and the 
second regiment commanded by Col. Drake, formed 
the second line, with an interval between them of 
about seventy yards, which was all the ground would 
allow. m , 



INDIAN WARS. 



139 



The right flank was pretty well secured by the 
creek, a steep bank, and Faulkener's corps. Some of 
the ravalry and their piquets covered the left flank. 
The militia were sent over the creek and advanced 
about one quarter of a mile, and encamped in the 
same order. There were a few Indians who appeared 
on the opposite side of the creek, but fled with the ut- 
most precipitation on the advance of the militia. At 
this place, which I judged to be about 15 miles from 
the Miami village, I had determined to throw up a 
slight work, the plan of which was concerted that 
evening with Major Ferguson, wherein to have de- 
posited the men's knapsacks, and every thing else 
that was not of absolute necessity, and to have 
moved on to attack the enemy as soon as the first 
regiment was come up, but they did not permit me 
to execute either $ for on the 4th, about half an hour 
before sun-rise, and when the men had been just 
dismissed from the parade, (for it was a con- 
stant practice to have them all under arms a consid- 
erable time before day-light,) an attack was made 
upon the militia, who gave way in a very little time, 
and rushed into camp through Major Butler's battal- 
ion, which, together with part of Clark's, they threw 
into considerable disorder, and which, notwithstand- 
ing the exertions of both these officers, was never al- 
together remedied. The Indians followed close at 
their heels ; the fire however of the front line checked 
them, but almost instantaneously a very heavy attack 
began upon that line, and in a few minutes it was ex- 
tended to the second likewise. The great weight of 
it was directed against the centre of each, where the 
artillery was placed, and from which the men were 
repeatedly driven with great slaughter. Finding no 
great effect from the fire, and confusion beginning to 
spread from the great number of men who were fall- 
en in all quarters, it became necessary to try what 
could be done with the bayonet. 

" Lit. Col. Drake was accordingly ordered to make 
a charge with a part of the second line, and to turn 



140 



INDIAN WARS. 



the left flank of the enemy. This was executed with 
great spirit, and at first promised much success. The 
Indians instantly gave way, and were driven hack 
three or four hundred yards ; but for want of a suffi- 
cient number of riflemen to pursue this advantage, 
they soon returned, and the troops were obliged to 
give back in their turn. At this moment they had 
entered our camp by the left flank, having pursued 
back the troops that were posted there. 

" Another charge was made here by the second 
regiment, Butler and Clark's battalions, with equal 
effect, and it was repeated several times, and always 
with success ; but in all of them many men were lost, 
and particularly the officers, which, with some raw 
troops, was a loss altogether irremediable. In that 
I just spoke of made by the second regiment, and 
Butler's battalion, Major Butler was dangerously 
wounded, and every officer of the second regiment 
fell except three, one of which, Capt. Greaton, was 
shot through the body. 

" Our artillery being now silenced, and all the offi- 
cers killed except Capt. Ford, who was badly wound- 
ed, more than half of the army fallen, being cut off 
from the road, it became necessary to attempt the re- 
gaining it, and to make a retreat if possible. To this 
purpose the remains of the army was formed as well 
as circumstances would admit, towards the right of 
the encampment ; from which, by the way of the sec- 
ond line, another charge was made upon the enemy, 
as if with the design to turn their right flank, but it 
was in fact to gain the road. This was effected ; and 
as soon as it was open the militia entered it, followed 
by the troops 5 Major Clark with his battalion cov- 
ering the rear. 

" The retreat in those circumstances was, you may 
be sure, a precipitate one. It was in fact a flight. 
The camp and the artillery were abandoned; but that 
w as unavoidable, for not a horse was left alive to have 
drawn it off had it otherwise been practicable. But 
the most disgraceful part of the business is, that the 



INDIAN WA'RS. 



141 



greatest part of the men threw away their arms and 
accoutrements, even after the pursuit (which con- 
tinued aboot four milesj had ceased. 

u I found the road strewed with them for many 
miles, but was not able to remedy it ; for having had 
all my horses killed, and being mounted upon one 
that could not be p ticked out of a walk, I could not 
get forward myself 5 and the orders I sent forward 
either to halt the front or prevent the men from part- 
ing with their arms, were unattended to. 

" The route continued quite to fort Jefferson, 29 
miles, which was reached a little after sun-set. The 
action began about half an hour before sun-rise, and 
the retreat was attempted at half past nine o'clock. 

66 1 have not yet been able to get the returns of 
the killed and wounded ; but Major General Butler, 
Lieut. Col. Oldham, of the militia, Majors Ferguson, 
Hart and Clark, are among the former. 

" I have now, Sir, finished my melancholy tale; 
a tale that will be felt, sensibly felt, by every one that 
has sympathy for private distress, or for public mis- 
fortune. I have nothing, Sir, to lay to the charge of 
the troops but their want of discipline, which, from 
the short time they had been in service, it was impos- 
sible they should have acquired, and which ren- 
dered it very difficult, when they were thrown into 
confusion, to reduce them again to order, and is one 
reason why the loss has fallen so heavy upon the 
officers, who did every thing in their power to effect 
it. Neither were my own exertions wanting, but 
worn down with illness, and suffering under a painful 
disease, unable either to mount or dismount a horse 
without assistance, they were not so great as they 
otherwise would, or perhaps ought to have been. 

" We were overpowered by numbers ; but it is 
no more than justice to observe, that though composed 
of so many different species of troops, the utmost 
harmony prevailed through the whole army during the 
campaign. 

19 



142 



Ilk IMA 3? WARS. 



"At fort Jefferson I found the first regiment, 
which had returned from the service they had been 
sent upon, without either overtaking the deserters 
or meeting the convoy of provisions. I am not cer- 
tain, Sir, whether I ought to consider the absence of 
this regiment from the field of action as fortunate or 
otherwise. I incline to think it was fortunate ; for I 
very much doubt, whether, had it been in the action the 
fortune of the day had been turned ; and if it had not, 
the triumph of the enemy would have been more com- 
plete, and the country would have been destitute of 
means of defence. 

u Taking a view of the situation of our broken 
troops at fort Jefferson, and that there was no provis- 
ions in the fort, I called on the field officers for their 
advice what vvould.be proper further to be done ; and 
it was their unanimous opinion, that the addition of 
the first regiment, unbroken as it was, did not put 
the army on so respectable a footing as it was in the 
morning, because a great part of it was now unarmed; 
that it had been found unequal to the enemy, and 
should they come on, which was probable, would be 
found so again; that the troops could riot be thrown 
into the fort, because it was too small, and there was 
no provision in it ; that provisions were known to be 
upon the road at the distance of one or at most 
two marches ; that therefore it would be proper to 
move without loss of time to meet the provisions, 
when the men might have the sooner an opportunity 
of some refreshment, and that a proper detachment 
might be sent back with it, to have it safely depos- 
ited in the fort. 

" This advice was accepted, and the army was put 
in motion again at ten o'clock, and marched all night, 
and the succeeding day met with a quantity of flour ; 
part of it wsa distributed immediately, part taken 
back to supply the army on the march to fort Hamil- 
ton, and the remainder about fifty horse loads, sent 
forward to fort Jefferson. 



K\JB1AN WAR*. 



143 



"I have said, Sir, in the former part of my commu- 
nication, that we were overpowered by numbers ; of 
that, however, I have no other evidence but the 
weight of the nre, which was always a most deadly 
o ,e, and generally delivered from the ground, few of 
the enemy showing themselves on foot, except when 
they were charged, and that in a few T minutes qur 
whole camp, which extended above 350 yards in 
length, was entirely surrounded and attacked on all 
quarters. 

u The loss, Sir, the public has sustained by the fall 
of so many officers, particularly Gen. Butler, and 
Major Ferguson, cannot be too much regretted ; but 
it is a circumstance that will alleviate the misfortune 
in some measure, that all of them fell most gallantly 
doing their duty. I have the honour to be, Sir, 
your most obedient servant. 

" ARTHUR ST. CLAIR. 

" Hon. Secretary of War." 

The defeat of Gen. St. Clair took place within 
three miles of the Miami village. The loss on this 
occasion was about 600 killed and wounded, (said to 
be nearly equal to Braddock's defeat, J with seven 
pieces of artillery, and all the stores. Gen. St. Clair 
had about 1200 men; had reason to expect an attack, 
and kept his men under arms all night, drawn up in a 
square. The attack commenced about dawn of 
day, on all the lines, but principally on the rear lines, 
which was composed of the militia. The Indians 
gave one fire and rushed on tomahawk in hand. The 
militia gave way to the centre; and before the artil- 
lery could be brought into action the matrosses were 
all killed and it fell into the hands of the enemy. 

It was retaken, but was useless, for want of men to 
manage the pieces. The action was continued obsti- 
nately until 9 o'clock, when the troops gave way. 
St. Clair rallied his men, and brought them off in 
tolerable order, with most of the wounded, to fort 



INDIAN WAR S. 



Jefferson, SO miles in the rear of the action. The 

enemy pursued five miles. 

The following is a copy of a return of the officers 
killed and wounded in the engagement: 

Killed, 1 Major General, 1 Lieut. Colonel, 5 'Ma- 
jors, 11 Captains, 10 Lieutenants, 9 Ensigns, 1 Sur- 
geon. Total, 38. 

Wounded, 2 Lieut. Colonels, 1 Major, 11 CapU his, 
6 Lieutenants, 6 Ensigns, 1 Surgeon. Total, 27. 

Besides the above, there was about 550 privates 
killed and many more wounded. Few officers of 
distinction escaped except Gen. St. Clair, who had 
many narrow escapes. Eight balls passed through 
his clothes. The attack w as conducted with aston- 
ishing intrepidity on the part of the Indians. In a 
few moments the General 5 s tent was surrounded. 
However, he was rescued by a party of regular sol- 
diers, who repelled the enemy with fixed bayonets. 
There was a party of the Chickasaw nation on their 
way to join Gen. St. Clair, but did not arrive in sea- 
son. There was but one fellow only of that nation in 
the action, who killed and scalped eleven of the ene- 
my with his own hands, and engaging with the 
twelfth, he fell, greatly lamented by the Americans. 

Major Gen. Butler was wounded and carried to a 
convenient place to have his wounds dressed, but an 
Indian having discovered the place to which he was 
conveyed, broke through the troops who attended 
him, and tomahawked and scalped the former, before 
he was killed by the troops. 

Agreeable to the statement of the Indians, they 
killed 650 of the American troops, and took seven 
pieces of cannon, 200 oxen and a great number of 
horses, but no prisoners ; and that their loss was only 
56 warriors killed. They stated that they were 4000 
strong, and were commanded by one of the Missasago 
Indians, who had been in the British service in the 
late war ; that he planned and conducted the attack, 



INDIAN WARS. 



145 



which was even contrary to the opinion of a majority 
of the chiefs ; and that, after the Amercans began 
to retreat, he told the Indians thev had killed enough, 
and that it was proper to give over the pursuit, and re- 
turn and enjoy the booty they had taken. He was six 
feet in height, about 45 years of age, of a very sour and 
morose countenance, and apparently very crafty and 
subtle. His dress was Indian hose and moccasons, 
a blue petticoat that came half way down his thighs, 
and European waistcoat and surtout. His head was 
bound with an Indian cap that came halfway down 
his back, and almost entirely filled with plain silver 
broaches to the number of more than £00. He had 
two ear-rings to each ear; the upper part of each 
was formed of three silver medals about the size of 
a dollar ; the lower part was formed of quarters of 
dollars, and fell more than 12 inches from the ears; 
one from each ear over his breast ; the other over 
his back. He had three very large nose jewels of sil- 
ver that were curiously painted. 

The party of friendly Chickasaws, who w T ere on 
their way to join the American troops, arrived at 
fort Jefferson two days after the bloody action. 
They were commanded by Piomingo, or the moun- 
tain leader. On their way they discovered that the 
troops had been defeated, and saw one of the enemy, 
who, mistaking Piomingo's party for some of his own 
comrades, made up to them. He perceived his mis- 
take, but too late to retreat. He was accosted by 
Pioiniago with " Rascal, you have been killing white 
men." He endeavoured to excuse himself, but Pio- 
mingo ordered two of his warriors to expand his 
arms, and a third, an old man (for says Piomingo, 
"none of my young men shall disgrace themselves 
so much as to kill a wretch like thee") to shoot him 
through the heart; which was accordingly executed. 
They afterwards took off his scalp. 

During St. Clair 5 s bloody engagement, Adjutant 
Bulgess received two wounds, the second of which 
proved mortal. After the receipt of the first h© 



146 



IKDIAN WARS. 



continued to fight with distinguished gallantry ; the 
second unfortunately stopped his progress. Faint 
with the loss of blood, he fell, A w oman who attend- 
ed him, and was particularly attached to him, raised 
him up, and while supporting him in her arms receiv- 
ed a ball in her breast which put an immediate end 
to her existence ! 

Soon after Ensign Wilson (a much lamented youth) 
fell, one of the savages attempted to take off his 
scalp, which Col. Drake perceiving, he hastened to 
the spot, and with his sword stabbed the miscreant 
through the body. 

INDIANS DEFEATED. 

A few weeks after the defeat of the troops under 
Gen. St. Clair, Gen. Scott despatched from the men 
under his command two spies to reconnoitre the 
enemy, who, when they arrived at the distance of a 
few miles from the fatal spot where the bloody action 
was fought, they discovered a large party of Indians 
diverting and enjoying themselves with the plun- 
der they had taken, riding the bullocks, &,c. and 
appeared to be mostly drunk. The men returned 
and communicated the important information to Gen. 
Scott, who thereupon immediately divided his troops 
into three divisions, advanced and fell on the enemy 
by surprise. The contest was short but victorious on 
the part of the American troops. Two hundred of 
the enemy were killed on the spot, all the cannon 
and stores in their possession retaken, and the re- 
mainder of the savage body put to flight. Gen. 
Scott, losing but six men, returned to head -quarters 
in triumph, with most of the cattle, stores, &c. 

Gen. Scott gave the following affecting account 
of the appearance of the field on which the bloody 
action between the American troops under Gen. St. 
Clair and the savages was fought: "The place 
had a very melancholy appearance. Nearly in the 



INDIAN WARS. 



147 



space of 350 yards lay 300 skull bones, which were 
buried by my men while on the ground ; from thence 
for five miles on, and the roads through the woods, 
was ytrewed with skeletons, muskets, &c." 

DEFEAT OF MAJOR M'MAHON. 

On the 29th of July, 1794, Major M'Mahon march- 
ed with 80 riflemen, under the command of Capt. 
Hartshorn, and 50 dragoons under the command of 
Captain Taylor, for fort Recovery, as an escort to 
300 pack horses loaded with fiour for that garrison; 
on the morning following, after they had deposited 
their loading, and were preparing to set out on their 
return,they were attacked by an army of 1200 Indians. 
Capt. Hartshorn, who had advanced with the riflemen 
about a quarter of a mile into the woods, immedi- 
ately took post on a very strong commanding piece 
of ground near the garrison, and with unparallelled 
bravery, maintained the unequal fight till Major 
M'Mahon, who had put himself at the head of the 
cavalry, was killed, as was Capt. Taylor, and Cornet 
Terry, and many of the men wounded. The enemy 
now put their force against Capt. Hartshorn, and in 
the moment when they were pushing to cut off his 
communication with the garrison, Lieut. Drake and 
Ensign Dodd sallied out at the head of £0 brave fel- 
lows, who turned out voluntarily on the occasion, 
and joined him, after beating the enemy at the point 
of the bayonet. At this instant the brave Captain 
Hartshorn received a shot which broke his thigh. 
Lieut. Craig was killed, and Lieut. Marks taken 
prisoner. Lieut. Drake now ordered a retreat, and 
on endeavouring to hold the enemy in check so as to 
give the men time to save Capt. Hartshorn, he re- 
ceived a shot in the groin. The enemy now pressed 
so hard as to compel the men to leave their captain. 

Great numbers of the Indians must have been 
killed, as they came forward in aoiid columns up to- 



148 



INDIAN WARS. 



the muzzle of the guns. Lieut. Michael, who was 
with Capt. Hartshorn, but whom he had detached 
with a few active men to the flank of the enemy, 
was now missing : and while their companions in the 
fort were deploring their fate, and had given them 
up as lost, they saw him and Lieutenant Marks rush- 
ing through the thick of the enemy at opposite direc- 
tions, and although numbers of guns were fired at 
them, they got in safe. Lieutenant Michael lost 
every man of his party except three, and Lieutenant 
Marks got off by knocking down the Indian who 
took him. 

The Indians were observed to carry off great num- 
bers of killed and wounded on pack-horses. The 
loss of the Americans was 23 killed, and about 40 
wounded. The party commanded by Capt. Harts- 
horn brought in ten scalps of the enemy. 



CHAPTER XI. 



DEPREDATIONS OF' THE INDIANS ON THB FRONTIERS* 

On the 19th December, 1791, as two men and three 
boys were fishing on Floyd's fork of Salt River, they 
were suddenly attacked by a party of Indians, who 
killed the two men and made prisoners of the 
boys. Soon after they liberated one of the lads, 
first presenting him with a tomahawk, which they 
desired him to carry to his friends and inform them 
what had become of his companions. 

About the 20th a party of Indians attacked the 
house of a Mr. Chenoweth, situated near the mouth 
of the Wabash. They killed and scalped two of his 
children and tomahawked and scalped his wife, whom 
they left for dead. Mr. C. ( who had his arm broken 
by the fire of the savages) with the remainder 
of the family made their escape. A sick daughter 
who was confined to her chamber, and who, during 
tlie bloody affray, had been forgotten by her father, 
remained ignorant of the horrid massacre until the 
succeeding day ; when no one of the family coming 
to her assistance, she succeeded in crawling down 
stairs, where she was inexpressibly shocked at the 
sight of a beloved parent stretched upon the floor, 
almost lifeless, and at the side of whom lay the man- 
gled bodies of her dear brothers. Fortunately, her 
unhappy father returned the succeeding day to the 
house, and conveyed the two surviving members of 
his family to the house of a friend, where they finally 
recovered. 

On the 24th a party of Indians attacked the dwell- 
ing house of a Mr. John Merril in Nelson county, 
Kentucky. Mr. Merril, who was first alarmed by 
the barking of his dog, hastened to the door to d\s- 
20 



150 



tVDIAN WARS. 



cover the cause; on opening of which he receired 

the fire of the Indians which broke his right leg and 
arm. The Indians now attempted to enter the 
house, but were prevented by the door being imme- 
diately closed and secured by Mrs. Merril and her 
daughter. The Indians succeeded in hewing away 
a part of the door, through which passage one of 
them attempted to enter, but the heroic mother, in 
the midst of her screaming children and groaning 
husband, seized an axe and gave the ruffian a fatal 
blow; after which she hauled him through the pas- 
sage into the house ! The others unconscious of the 
fate of their companion, supposing that they had 
now nearly succeeded in their object, rushed forward ; 
four of which Mrs. Merril in like manner despatched 
before the others discovered their mistake, The 
remaining Indians, after retiring for a few moments, 
returned and renewed their efforts to enter the 
house. Despairing of succeeding at the door they 
got on the top of the house and attempted to descend 
the chimney ; to prevent which Mr. Merril directed 
his little son to empty upon the fire the contents of 
a feather-bed, which had the desired effect, as the 
smoke and heat caused thereby soon brought down, 
rather unexpectedly, two of the enemy. Mr. Merril, 
exerting every faculty at this critical moment, seized 
a billet of wood with which he soon despatched the 
two half smothered Indians, while in the mean time 
his heroic wife was busily engaged in defending the 
door against the efforts of the only remaining one, 
whom she so severely wounded with an axe that he 
was soon glad to retire. 

A prisoner who escaped from the enemy soon after 
the transaction, informed that the wounded savage 
above mentioned was the only one that escaped of 
the party, which consisted of eight ; that on his re- 
turn being asked by the prisoner "what news," he 
answered, " bad news for poor Indian, me lose a son, 
me los a brother 5 the squaws have taken the breach 
clout a A fight worse than the " long knives !" 



INDIAN 'WARS. 



151 



•OPT »7 A LHTTBH F90H A GENTLEMAN RESIDING AT THE TfMTTTARD, 

TO A FRIEND IN NEW-YORK, DATED 

11 Marietta, Feb. 1, 1792. 
iC Our prospects are much changed. Instead of 
peace and friendship with our Indian neighbours, a 
horrid savage war stares us in the face. The Indians 
instead of being humbled by the destruction of the 
Shawanese towns, and brought to beg for peace, ap- 
pear determined on a general war, in which our set- 
tlements are already involved. On the evening of 
the 2d instant they fell on a settlement about forty 
miles up the M uskingum, surprised a block-house, 
killed fourteen persons and carried off three others. 
The persons killed are, John and Philip Stacy, sons 
to Col. William Stacy from Ncw-Salem; Ezra Put- 
nam, son to Major Ezra Putnam, from Middietown, 
in Massachusetts ; John Camp, from the same place 5 
Jonathan Farewell, James Cash, and William Patton, 
from New-Hampshire; Zebulon Throop, from Barre; 
William James, from Connecticut 5 Joseph Clark, 
from Rhode-Island 5 a man by the name of Meeks, 
with his wife and children, from Virginia. These 
were all killed in and at the block-house. Francis 
and Isaac Choatfrom Lancaster, and one Shaw r , who 
kept at a hut about 50 rods from the block-house, 
was not found by the party that went out, and it is 
hoped that they are prisoners. What number of 
Indians were concerned in this mischief, or from what 
tribe, we know not; but from those Indians who 
till lately used to visit our settlements every day, 
withdrawing themselves entirely from our sight 
ever since the expedition against the Shawanese, 
there is little reason to doubt but the Delawares and 
the Wyandot s, as well as others, have had a hand in 
this nefarious business. 

" It is impossible forme to give a just idea of the 
distress into which this event has thrown the inhabi- 
tants, especially those of the out settlements. For 
my own part I have for some time been @f opinion, 



152 



I- If MAN WARS. 



that the spring would open with a general attack on 
the frontiers, in which event I did not expect we 
should escape, unless government should timely send 
troops for our protection, which we were in hopes 
would be the case. But it seems the enemy are de- 
termined to take advantage of our defenceless situa- 
tion. 1 consider this event as the forerunner of 
other attacks of a more serious nature, and which 
may involve us in complete ruin, unless prevented 
by government immediately taking measures for our 
protection. To their protection I conceive we al- 
ways had an indisputable claim, which claim, if pos- 
sible, is increased by the circumstances that have 
brought us under the resentment of the Indians, and 
at least, in some measure produced the mischief that 
we are fallen into." 

COPY OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN KENTUCKY TO HIS FRIEND 
IN PHILADELPHIA, BATED 

" March 3, 1792. 

ff Ail to the Indians, they have been troublesome 
all winter. Since October last 60 persons have been 
killed within the limits of this district, beside a num- 
ber destroyed on the Ohio ; among whom is our old 
acquaintance, Mr. John May, late of Botetoute, whose 
exit deserves notice, because he was actuated by 
motives of humanity. The affair is thus related by 
a captive that has lately made his escape from the In- 
dians, who was a spectator, and an unwilling instru- 
ment in the Tragedy. 

" Mr. May, in descending the Great Kanhawa and 
Ohio, about the 20th of February last, discovered 
on the western shore of the latter, near the mouth 
of Sciota, a white man, who with a plaintive voice, 
was calling, for God's sake, to come and take a poor 
prisoner on board, that was endeavouring to escape 
from the savages. This had the desired effect. 
Mr. May ordered the boat towards the shore, and 
did not discover his mistake until the Indians rose 



INDIAN WARS. 



153 



up from their ambush, fired, shot him dead, and 
wounded some others of the passengers on board, 
who immediately endeavoured to make off; but being 
told in the English tongue, they should have good 
quarters, surrendered without resistance. The In- 
dians, however, on boarding the boat, massacred all 
without discrimination. Two days after, the same 
party attempted to deco}^ three large boats ashore 
that were coming down from fort Pitt, but luckily 
they were discovered in time, and our people sheered 
off. The enemy, being prepared, manned one of 
their boats w ith about 30 warriors, and gave chase. 
The crews of two of the boats, fearing they might 
be overtaken, quitted them, and went on board the 
best sailer, where they threw overboard all their 
horses, and some heavy articles, and plied all their 
oars to effect their escape. The Indians also exert- 
ed themselves in the pursuit, keeping on a steady 
course for about 20 miles, notwithstanding 24 well 
armed white men were on board the American boat, 
with one of our colonels of militia. 

u Thus, for want of a little resolution and skill a 
favourable opportunity was lost, to destroy a number 
of the vile enemies of the human race. The Indians, 
on their return, took possession of the two boats that 
were abandoned, and found in them 17 horses, 5000 
dollars worth of merchandize, and considerable prop- 
erty, belonging to the emigrants, 

u Fort M'Intosh, on the Ohio, was a short time 
since attacked by a party of the Indians. They 
secreted themselves near the fort and succeeded in 
killing the sentinel on duty. They then rushed into 
the fort and discharged their pieces on those within. 
One man only was wounded, who, in endeavouring to 
escape was tomahawked by an Indian. One ball 
just grazed the temple of Capt. Forbes, who com- 
manded the guard, and four others struck the log- 
above his head, the splinters and bits of which cut his 
face, and left it as if scarified. The garrison consisted 
of 20 men, and there were about 40 of the enemy. 



154 



*ffDIAtf WARS. 



" Thus, Sir, we find that Indian treaties do not se- 
cure our country from the depredations of the sava- 
ges. Our last hope now is that the President of the 
United States will, ere long, adopt such measures as 
will prove the efficiency of the Federal Government, 
to protect the citizens of the United States, however 
remotely situated from the seat of government.' 5 

COPT OJ A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO A 
FRIEND IN NEW-YOPwK ? DATED 

"Charleston, August 6, 1792. 

"An express arrived from Gen. Pickens and Col. 
Anderson, which brings advices to the Governor, 
stating, that a general Indian war on the western 
frontiers of the southern states seems inevitable 5 that 
by intelligence from the country of the' Creeks, all 
the tribes except the Custawas are determined for 
war, urged by Galphin, the successor of M ? GiUivray; 
and that they have already commenced hostilities 
within the Carolina line, a party of them having 
killed and scalped a man on Tugaloo. We hear his 
Excellency has ordered one third of the militia in the 
upper districts to be drafted, and held in readiness 
for immediate service, should the savages make fur- 
ther depredations on the frontiers. 

" Yesterday evening a gentleman arrived here 
from Augusta, who informed us that six of the Creek 
towns, with a number of Cherokees, had declared 
war against the United States, and were actually 
marching under the command of Bowles and Galphin 
to attack the frontiers. 

" On the 22d ult. the Indians, 37 in number, came 
to the house of a Mr. Richard Thresher, in Augusta, 
and fired upon and killed Mr. Thresher, two children 
and a negro woman. Mrs. Thresher, to avoid if 
possible the fate with which she was threatened, 
fled with an infant of about five or six weeks old in 
her arms, and leaped into the river. The Indians 
pursued, shot her through each thigh and right 



Htf DI AH WARS. 



155 



breast, stabbed her in the left breast with a knife, 
cut her left arm nearly off, and then scalped her. 
In this horrid situation she remained until the neigh- 
bours could assemble in sufficient numbers to cross 
the river and pursue the Indians. As the first canoe 
was crossing she had strength enough to call for 
assistance. They went, found her hanging by a bush 
in water nearly up to her chin, her infant at the bot- 
tom of the river, a few yards from her. She lived 
24 hours, and when informed by her physician that it 
was impossible for her to survive much longer, she, 
with a fortitude that is rarely to be met with, called 
her friends around her, and in a calm but pathetic 
manner, gave her hand to each one, wishing them a 
better fate than had befallen herself and family 5 and 
when, after her speech failed, as neighbours were 
constantly coming in, she continued to give her hand 
until about five minutes before she resigned her 
breath, which was without a groan. 

" Mrs. Thresher was about 25 years of age, of a 
respectable family and elegant person, and possessed 
an uncommon education. 

" On Thursday the 24th, two men were killed in 
Franklin and 40 horses carrried off 5 and since the 
accounts above received, all the inhabitants on the 
frontiers have retreated into forts, without arms or 
ammunition. At one meeting of near 40 persons, 
they could only muster five old muskets; and to 
heighten the horror of their condition, the Indians 
were momentarily expected. 

" As similar murders were daily committed, it call- 
ed up the spirit of 800 gallant fellows, who marched 
last week against the savages, determined to revenge 
the cruelties perpetrated on the infant, the mother 
and the defenceless. 

"To see the country all in forts, breaking up, 
leaving their farms, their corn and their houses burnt 
up, is truly distressing. At this time nearly half the 
country are in forts. 



156 



mmATi WARS; 



u Capt. Kenton with about 35 men, who wet>t up 
the Ohio in order to intercept the Indians who took 
Morgan's station, fell in with a trail of a party of In- 
dians on the waters of point Creek, coming in to the 
settlement. He followed them, and at night ob- 
serving he was near them, sent forward some spies 
to discover their fires. Unluckily the spies fell in 
with their camp, and before they discovered it the 
Indians were alarmed by a dog which flew out at the 
spies; upon which the Indians fired on them. The 
spies returned the fire. Upon hearing the firing the 
whole of the party came up, and the Indians retreat- 
ed, leaving their baggage; among which was a quan- 
tity of powder, lead and blankets. Kenton had one 
man killed. It is supposed two Indians were killed 
and carried off, from some discoveries that were made 
next morning." 

COPY OF A LETTER FROM FORT WASHINGTON, DATED 

"April 20, 1792. 

a On Tuesday morning the 6th inst. Major xidair, 
with 120 volunteers from Kentucky, having charge 
of a large number of pack-horses laden with provisi- 
ons, destined for the advanced posts, was most dar- 
ingly attacked by nearly an equal party of Indians, 
although under cover of fort St. Clair ; notwithstand- 
ing which, and that our people fought desperately, 
the Indians drove them into the fort, and carried off 
all their provisions and horses, both pack and cavalry 5 
save about twenty killed and four wounded, and 
stripped the camp of every thing, carrying the whole 
off with most audacious insult and triumph. But 
as soon as the party were resupplied with ammu- 
nition from the garrison, they sallied forth near a 
quarter of a mile from the enemy ; but too late to 
recover the booty which the Indians had made. The 
courage and daring spirit of these people were par- 
ticularly conspicuous on this occasion, as they fought 
almost under the guns of the fort. Our loss was one 



INDIAN WARS'. 



157 



captain and ten privates killed, and some wounded, 
besides horses and provisions, estimated at 15,000 
dollars. Two of the enemy were found dead a short 
distance from the Held of action. If these Indians 
had writers among them, what honourable testimony 
and eulogy might they not give of the noble spirit 
and heroic bravery, of the native American character, 
ratfeer than depreciate it as the Europeans do. Two 
of our men have lately made their escape from the 
Miami villages and arrived here, who give account of 
a mock fight lately exhibited by the Indians assem- 
bled there, and to divert the ! squaws and children. 
It was in ridicule of General St. Clair's disposition of 
his troops on the 4th of November last, and of his 
flight before the Indians, who pursued him and his 
army whilst the other plundered his camp. They 
have given out that they mean to celebrate this event 
annually by a like sham fight and a great dance, to be 
called General St. Clair's fight and dance. It is to 
be hoped we yet shall have an opportunity to retali- 
ate and to teach our enemy to amuse themselves at 
our expense in a less ludicrous manner. It seems 
that Gen. St. Clair's field of action was on a branch 
of the Wabash, 24 leagues from the Miami towns, 
which are now inhabited by the hostile Indians. 

"A letter from a correspondent, on whose veracity 
we can rely, in the territory of the United States 
south of the river Ohio, dated the 17th ult. states, 
that every thing wears a gloomy aspect on the west- 
ern frontiers; that about the last of December the 
Cherokees sent in peace talkers to Governor Blount, 
which were only intended to facilitate the commis- 
sion of further depredations by them, when the 
guards from out posts were withdrawn j that from 
the 16th to the 26th of January, the Indians killed 
and wounded 19 persons in Cumberland, among 
whom was Edwin Shelby, brother to the Governor of 
Kentucky ; that four of the Chickamogga towns, and 
the upper Creeks have declared war ; that the 
Creeks have killed a family in the countv of Georgia ; 
21 



15S 



INDIA 5 WARS. 



thai the barbarity exercised by them in this massacre 
was enough to make human nature shudder at the 
bare recital. They butchered them like so manv 
dogs, caught their blood and bowels, exposed them 10 
view, and then gave the whole to a tame bear to 
devour : that the Cherokees had killed two Creeks, 
wounded several, and taken two prisoners 5 that the 
Creeks threaten to retaliate, and cut them all off: 
that the inhabitants of the territory are waiting with 
impatience for the general government to afford them 
succour and protection: that treaties with the sav- 
ages will avail nothing, as what promises thev make 
to-day they will not hesitate to break to-morrow." 

COPY OF A LETTER FROM MR. JOHN CORBLY, A BAPTIST MINISTER , 
TO HIS FRIEND IX PHILADELPHIA, DATED 

"Muddy Creek, Penn. Sept. 1, 1792. 

"Dear Sir, 

"The following are the particulars of the 
destruction of my unfortunate family by the savages. 
On the 10th May last, being my appointment to 
preach at one of my meeting houses, about a mile 
from my dwelling house, I sat out with my loving 
wife and five children, for public worship. Not sus- 
pecting any danger, I walked behind a few rods with 
my Bible in my hand, meditating. As I was thus- 
employed, on a sudden 1 was greatly alarmed by 
the frightful shrieks of my dear family before me. 
I immediately ran to their relief with all possible 
speed, vainly hunting a club as I ran. When within 
a few yards of them, my poor wife observing me, 
cried out to me to make my escape. At this instant 
an Indian ran up to shoot me. I had to strip, and by 
so doing out-ran him. My wife had an infant in her 
arms, which the Indians killed and scalped. After 
which they struck my wife several times, but not 
bringing her to the ground, the Indian who attempted 
to shoot me approached her and shot her through 
the body. After which they scalped her ! My 



INDIAN AVARS. 



159 



little son, about six years old, they despatched by sink- 
ing their hatchets into his brains ! My little daugh- 
ter, four years old, they in like manner tomahawked 
and scalped ! My eldest daughter attempted an 
escape by concealing herself in a hollow tree, about 
six rods from the fatal scene of action. Observing 
the Indians retiring, as she supposed, she deliberately 
crept from the place of her concealment, when one 
of the Indians, who yet remained on the ground, 
espying her, ran up to her, and with his tomahawk 
knocked her down and scalped her. But, blessed 
be God, she yet survives, as does her little sister 
w hom the savages in like manner tomahawked and 
scalped. They are mangled to a shocking degree, 
but the doctors think there are some hopes of their 
recovery. 

u When I supposed the Indians gone, I returned to 
see what had become of my unfortunate family, 
whom, alas, I found in the situation above described. 
No one, my dear friend, can form a true conception 
of my feelings at this moment. A view of a scene 
so shocking to humanity quite overcome me. I faint- 
ed, and was unconsciously borne off by a friend who 
at that instant arrived to my relief. 

¥ Thus, dear sir, have I given you a faithful though 
a short narrative of the fatal catastrophe ; amidst 
which my life is spared, but for what purpose the 
Great Jehovah best knows. Oh, may I spend it to 
the praise and glory of his grace, who worketh all 
things after the counsel of his own will. The gov- 
ernment of the world and the church is in his hands. 
I conclude with wishing you every blessing, and sub- 
scribe myself your affectionate though afflicted friend, 
and unworthy brother in the gospel ministry. 

"JOHN COREL Y." 



On the 27th September, 1792, as five gentlemen 
(Messrs. Jacobus Taller, Isaac Arnold, James Stew T - 
art, Daniel Barclay, and Isaac Van Aistyne,J were 



160 



INDIAN WARS. 



on their way to Detroit, at a place called the Burdle, 
on Lake Erie, they were suddenly attacked by four 
Mahagon or Delaware Indians, armed with muskets 
and tomahawks, who fired on them and killed Mr. 
Taller and Mr. Barclay dead on the spot, and 
wounded Mr. Arnold. They then rushed on with 
their tomahawks. One attacked Mr. Arnold, who, 
after a smart struggle, in which he received several 
wounds in his head, disengaged himself, and having a 
musket at the instant presented him by Mr. Stewart, 
snapped it at the Indian, who immediately thereupon 
with the three others fled to the woods. As soon 
as they had disappeared, Mr. Arnold and his compan- 
ions hastened to the shore of the lake, in which they 
launched their batteau, but when about thirty rods 
from the shore, they were hailed by Mr. Van Alstyne, 
who during the bloody contest had secreted himself 
in the bushes. He begged of his companions to re- 
turn and take him on board, on which Mr. Arnold 
requested him to proceed a few rods down the lake 
to a point of land, where he could more conveniently 
take him in. Mr. Van Alstyne, it was supposed, 
misunderstanding his friend, proceeded directly up 
the lake, to the very spot where the Indians were 
then assembled, who with their tomahawks instantly 
despatched him ; after which they followed the two 
survivors, in an old canoe, two or three miles down 
the lake, but being unable to overtake them they die- 
continued the pursuit. 

COPY OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN MARIETTA TO HIS FRIEND 
IN WASHINGTON, DATED 

" Marietta, March 4, 1793. 

"About two weeks since two brothers by the 
name of Johnson, one 12 the other 9 years of age, 
were playing on the western bank of Short Creek, 
about 12 miles from this, skipping stones in the wa- 
ter. At a distance they discovered two men, who 
appeared to be setters, being dressed with coats and 



INDIAN WARS. 161 

bats. These men, to amuse and deceive the children, 
engaged in the same sport, advancing toward the boys 
till by degrees they got so near that the chrildren dis- 
covered them to be Indians ; but it was then too late 
to make their escape. The Indians seized and carried 
them six miles into the woods, where they made a fire, 
and took up their lodgings for the night. Their 
rifles and tomahawks they rested against a tree, and 
then laid down, each Indian with a boy on his arm. 
The children as may be supposed kept awake. The 
eldest began to move, and finding hi® Indian sound 
asleep, by degrees disengaged himself and went to 
the fire, which had then got low, and stirred it up ; 
the Indian not waking, he whispered to his brother, 
who likewise crept away, and both of them went to 
the fire. 

" The oldest boy then observed to his brother, 
66 1 think we can kill these Indians, and get rid of 
them. ?? The youngest agreed in the proposal of 
attempting it. The oldest then took one of the 
rifles, and placed the muzzle, which he rested on a 
small stick, that he found for the purpose, close to 
the head of one of the Indians, and committing the 
execution of this part of the business to his brother, 
ordered him to pull the trigger at the moment he 
saw him strike the other Indian with one of the 
tomahawks. The oldest gave the signal ! The 
youngest pulled the trigger. The rifle shot away the 
lower part of the Indian's face, and left him senseless; 
he then told his brother to lay on, for he had done 
the deed for his ; after which he snatched up the 
gun and ran. The boy with the tomahawk gave the 
stroke with the wrong end. The Indian started on 
his seat. 'The boy found the mistake, and turning 
the tomahawk in his hand, gave him another blow 
which brought him to the ground. He repeated his 
strokes until he had despatched him, and then made 
the best of his way after his brother. When the 
boys had found the path which they recollected to 
have travelled before, the eldest fixed his hat on a 



162 



INDIAN WARS. 



bush, as a directory to find the scene of action the 
next day. The tomahawked Indian was found near 
the place where the boys had left him. The other 
was not there; but was tracked by his blood, and 
although so weakened by his wounds that he could 
not raise his rifle to fire at the pursuers, they suffer- 
ed him to escape ; but it is supposed he must have 
died of his wounds. These two Indians were sent 
out to reconnoitre the best place for an attack, which 
was to have been made by a body of warriors, wait- 
ing in the neighbourhood. 5 ' 



COPY OF A LETTER FROM COL. ROBERTSON, TO GENERAL WASH- 
INGTON, DATED 

"Nashville February 1, 1798. 

" Sir — By accounts received from the Chickasaw 
nation of Indians, we are informed that at a grand 
council of their warriors, it was unanimously deter- 
mined to commence active operations against the 
whites. The Cherokees they expect will join them. 
The white inhabitants in this quarter are drawing 
together, and are doing every thing possible for their 
defence, but I fear without some timely assistance 
we shall all fall a sacrifice to the wanton barbarity 
of our savage foes, who we expect are now on their 
way to this place to the number of 1000. Major 
Hail and his eldest son fell a sacrifice to their fury 
two days ago, near Bedloe's Lick. They have killed 
about 24 persons in the course of a few months in 
this settlement, besides a great number more near it. 

"From Burke county we learn, that on the 11th 
instant two men, a woman and her infant daughter, 
were scalped at Williams's Swamp, on the Ogeche 
river, by a party of Indians. The little girl, to deter 
them from their cruel design, held out a bottle of 
honey, telling them it was rum, begging them in the 
mean time to spare her life. They told her they did 
not want rum, but her hair ! They knocked her down 



INDIAN WARS. 



163 



and scalped her, but we are happy to learn she is in a 
fair way of recovery. 

" By a letter from Kentucky I am informed that the 
Indians have done more mischief in that state ,the 
present year than for at least four years past. Scarce 
a boat can pass below Limestone but what is attacked 
by them. Six or seven have been captured, some 
with very valuable lading. By a prisoner who es- 
caped from them a short time since, we are informed 
that the Indians have procured a boat, or rather a 
kind of floating battery, with the sides built high and 
rendered bullet proof. This boat is stationed near 
the mouth of the Great Miami. They a few days 
since captured a boat in which were a Capt. Ashley 
and his family. A son of the Captain having been 
very spirited in the opposition, the savages immedi- 
ately put him to death, cut out his heart, and broiled 
it, which they afterwards devoured in the presence of 
the unhappy father, who has since made his escape.' - 

COPY OP A LETTER FROM GEN. CLARKE TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE 
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, DATED 

"Long Creek, Sept. 24, 1793. 

"Sir — 1 had certain information that a man was 
killed on the 14th near Greensborough, by a party of 
six or seven Indians ; and that on the 16th Col. 
Barber, with a small party, was waylaid by 50 or 60 
Indians, by whom three of his party were killed. 
This, together with a variety of other accounts 
equally alarming, determined me to raise what men I 
could in the course of 24 hours, and march with them 
to protect the frontiers 5 in which space of time I 
collected 164 men, chiefly volunteers, and proceeded 
to the place where Col. Barber had been attacked, 
where I found the bodies of the three men mentioned 
above, mangled in a shocking manner, and after I had 
buried them, proceeding on the trail of the murder- 
ers as far as the south fork of the Oakmulgee, w here, 
finding I had no chance of overtaking them, I left it 



164 



INDIAN WARS. 



and went up said river, until J met with a fresb trail 
of Indians coming in towards our frontier settlements. 
I immediately turned and followed this trail until the 
morning of the 21st, between 11 and 12 o'clock, 
when I come up with them. They had just crossed 
a branch, called Jack's Creek, through a thick cane 
brake, and were encamped and cooking on an emi- 
nence. My force then consisted of 130 men, 30 hav- 
ing been sent back on account of their horses having 
been tired and lost. I drew up my men in three 
divisions, the right commanded by Colonel Free- 
man and Major Clark, who were ordered to sur- 
round and charge the Indians, which they did with 
such dexterity and spirit that they immediately drove 
them from their encampment back into the cane 
brake, where, finding it impossible for them to escape, 
they obstinately returned our fire until half past four 
o'clock, when they ceased, except now and then a 
shot. 

" During the latter part of the action they seized 
every opportunity of escaping by small parties, leav- 
ing the rest to shift for themselves. About aun-set 
I thought it most adviseable to draw off, as the men 
had suffered for want of provisions nearly two days, 
and for want of water during the action, but more 
particularly to take care of the wounded, which 
amounted to eleven ; and six killed. From every 
circumstance I am certain there were not less than 
25 Indians killed, and probably double that number 
wounded. In short they were totally defeated, with 
the loss of their provisions, clothing, &c. consisting 
of the following articles : 4 muskets, 32 brass-kettles, 
and 100 large packs, containing blankets,match-coats, 
boots, moccasons, tomahawks, pipes, upwards of 100 
halters and bridles, &,c. from all of which I judge 
their number was fully equal to ours. Col. Freeman 
and Major Clark distinguished themselves, and from 
the spirit and bravery with which the whole of my 
little party acted during the action, I do not believe 
that had we met them in the open woods we should 



INDIAN WARS. 



165 



have been more than five minutes in destroying 
them all. 

" While I was on this excursion, two skirmishes, 
happened near Greensborough, in one of which, one 
man was wounded, and in the other six stand of 
arms were lost, being guarded by only two men, 
while the rest of the party were gathering fodder. 

6i I am, Sir, with the utmost respect, your Excel- 
lency's most obedient, and very humble servant, 

"B. CLARKE, Brig. Gen. 
u His Ex. George Mathews, Governor of Georgia." 

Copy of a letter from an officer in the service of the 
United States, to his friend in New- York, dated 

" Buffaloe Creek, Sept. ST, 1793. 
"I left fort Franklin the 3d instant, and arriv- 
ed here the 11th in the evening, at the house of 
Mr. Winney, who informs me that upwards of 
4000 hostile Indians were now assembled at the 
Miami villages, and that their number was daily 
increasing. Captain Powel and several other gen- 
tlemen of the British army dined with me yesterday, 
and from their conversation I am perfectly con- 
vinced that the Indians are supported by the British 
in the war against us. Indeed, Captain Powel 
told me, that all the intentions of the Indians was 
well known to them, and the Indians were their 
allies, and of course they must support them. He 
also informed me that ten scouts of hostile Indians 
were then out to strike on the frontiers, and that 
they would soon strike the Six Nations. — Some of 
the chiefs of the hostile Indians passed here about 
five days ago on their way to Canada, but what their 
business is I cannot learn." 
22 



CHAPTER XII. 



DEFEAT OF THE INDIANS BY GEN. WAYNE. 
GEN. WAYNE TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 

" Sir — It is with infinite pleasure that I announce 
to you the brilliant success of the federal army un- 
der my command, in a general action with the com- 
bined force of the hostile Indians, and a considera- 
ble number of the volunteers and militia of Detroit, 
on the 20th of August, 1794, on the banks of the 
Miamis, in the vicinity of the British post and garri- 
son at the foot of the rapids. 

" The army advanced from fort Washington on 
the 15th and arrived at Roach de Bout on the 
18th, and on the 19th we were employed in mak- 
ing a temporary post for the reception of our stores 
and baggage, and in reconnoitering the position of 
the enemy who were encamped behind a thick bushy 
wood and the British fort. 

" At 8 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, the 
army again advanced in columns agreeably to the 
standing order of the march ; the legion on the right, 
its right flank covered by the Miamis $ one brigade 
of mounted volunteers on the left, under Brig. -Gen. 
Todd, and the other in the rear under Brig. -Gen. 
Barbee. A select battalion of mounted volunteers 
moved in front of the legation commanded by Major 
Price, who was directed to keep sufficiently advanc- 
ed and to give timely notice for the troops to form in 
case of action, it being yet undetermined whether the 
Indians would decide for peace or war. 

" After advancing about five miles, Maj. Price's 



INDIAN WARS. 



1G7 



corps received so severe a fire from the enemy, 
who were secreted in the woods and high grass, 
as to compel them to retreat. 

"The legion was immediately formed in two 
lines, principally in a close thick wood which ex- 
tended for miles on our left, and for a very con- 
siderable distance in front, the ground being cov- 
ered with old fallen timber, probably occasioned 
by a tornado, which rendered it impracticable for 
iie cavalry to act with effect, and afforded the en- 
emy the most favourable covert for their mode of 
warfare. The savages were formed in three lines 
within supporting distance of each other, and ex- 
tending for near two miles at right angles with 
' the river. I soon discovered from the weight of 
the fire and extent of their lines, that the enemy 
were in full force in front in possession of their 
favorite ground, and endeavouring to turn our left 
flank. I therefore gave orders for the second line 
to advance to support the first, and directed Maj. 
General Scott to gain and turn the right flank of 
the savages, with the whole of the mdunted vol- 
unteers by a circuitous route. At the same time 
I ordered the front line to advance and charge 
with trailed arms, and rouse the Indians from their 
coverts at the point of the bayonet, and when up 
to deliver a close and well directed fire on their 
backs, followed by a brisk charge so as not to give 
them time to load again, or to form their lines. — 
I also ordered Capt. M. Campbell, who command- 
ed the legionary cavalry, to turn the left flank of 
the enemy next the river, and which afforded a fa- 
vorable field for that corps to act in. All these 
orders were obeyed with spirit and promptitude; 
but such was the impetuosity of the charge by the 
first line of infantry, that the Indians and Cana- 
dian militia and volunteers were drove from all their 
coverts in so short a time that although every pos- 
sible exertion was used by the officers of the so- 



168 



IJOIAN WARS. 



cond line of the legion, and by G^eas. Scott, Wood 
and Barbee, of the mounted volunteers, to gain 
their proper positions, but part of each could get up 
in season to participate in the action, the enemy be- 
ing drove in the course of one hour more than two 
miles through the thick woods already mentioned, 
by less than one half their number. 

"From every account the enemy amounted to 
2000 combatants. The troops actually engaged 
against them were short of §00. This horde of 
savages, with their allies, abandoned themselves 
to flight and dispersed with terror and dismay, 
leaving our victorious army in full and quiet pos- 
session of the field of battle, which terminated un- 
der the influence of the guns of the British gar- 
rison. 

"The bravery and conduct of every officer belong- 
ing to the army, from the Generals down to the En r 
signs, merit my approbation. 

" Lieut. Covington, upon whom the command 
of the cavalry devolved, fcapt. Campbell being 
killed) cut" down two savages with his own hand, 
and Lieut. Webb one, in turning the enemy's left 
flank. 

"The wounds received by Captains Slough, 
Prior, Van Rensalaer and Rawlins, and Lieut s. 
M 5 Kenny and Smith, bear honourable testimony of 
their bravery and conduct.. In fact every officer and 
soldier who had an opportunity to come into action, 
displayed that true bravery which always ensure suc- 
cess. And here permit me to declare that I have 
never discovered more true spirit and anxiety for ac- 
tion than appeared to pervade the whole of the 
mounted volunteers ; and I am well persuaded, that, 
had the enemy maintained their favourite ground for 
one half hour longer, they would have most severely 
felt the prowess of that corps. 

"But whilst I pay this just tribute to the living, 
I must not neglect the gallant dead, among whom 



INDIAN WARS. 



169 



we have to lament the early death of those worthy 
and brave officers, Captain Campbell and Lieut. 
Towles, who fell in the first charge. 

"The loss of the enemy was more than double 
to that of the federal army. The woods were 
strewed for a considerable distance with dead bo- 
dies of Indians and their white auxiliaries, the lat- 
ter armed with British muskets and bayonets. We 
remained three days and nights on the banks of 
the Miami, in front of the field of battle, during 
which time ail the houses and cornfields were con- 
sumed and destroyed for a considerable distance a- 
bove and below the garrison, among which were the 
houses, stores and property of Col. M'Kee, the 
British Indian agent and principal stimulator of the 
war now existing between the linked States and the 
savages. 

"• The army returned to head-quarters on the 
27th, by easy marches, laying waste the villages 
and cornfields for about fifty miles on each of the 
Miamis. It is not improbable but that the enemy 
may make one desperate effort against the army, as 
it is said a reinforcement was hourly expected at 
fort Miamis from Niagara, as well as numerous 
tribes of Indians living on the margins and islands 
of the lakes. This is an event rather to be wished 
for than dreaded whilst the army remains in force, 
their numbers will only tend to confuse the savages, 
and the victory will be the more complete and de- 
cisive, and which may evantualiy insure a perma- 
nent and happy peace. 

" The following is a return of the killed, wound- 
ed and missing of the federal army, in the late ac- 
tion, to wit: 

" Killed, 1 Captain, 1 Lieut. 3 Sergeants, 28 
privates. Total 33. 

"Wounded, 4 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 
4 Sergeants, 3 Corporals, 2 Musicians, 84 orivates 
Total 100. 



170 



INDIAN WARS. 



" I have the honour to be, your most obedient 
and very humble servant. 

"ANTHONY WAYNE. 

" To the Secretary of War." 

The following circumstances which took place 
previous to ? and during Gen. Wayne's engage- 
ment, are worthy of record. 

At the instant Capt. Campbell was attempting 
to turn the left flank of the enemy, three of them 
plunged into the river. Two friendly negroes be- 
ing on the opposite side, and observing the In- 
dians making for the shore, they placed themselves 
on the bank behind a log, and as soon as the In- 
dians approached within shot, one of the negroes 
fired and killed one of the Indians 5 the other two 
got hold of him to drag him out, when the other 
negro fired and killed another 5 the remaining In- 
dian got hold of both the dead to pull them ashore, 
when the negro who killed the first having again 
re-loaded, fired and killed the third, and they all 
floated down the river. 

Another circumstance is also related, viz. A sol- 
dier, soon after the conclusion of the action, pro- 
ceeding some distance from the camp, met an In- 
dian $ they attacked each other, the soldier with his 
bayonet, and the Indian with his tomahawk. Some 
of the soldiers passing by that way two days after 5 
found them both dead, the soldier with his bayonet 
in the body of the Indian, and the Indian with his 
tomahawk in the soldier's head. 

The following circumstances took place previ- 
ous to the action: A Mr. Wells, who, when very 
young, was taken prisoner by the Indians, and 
had resided several years among them, had made 
his escape and was employed by Gen. Wayne as 
a spy. The day before the action he was taken 
by the Indians, who determined to put him to 
death. Finding it impossible to escape, he in- 
formed them that lien. Wayne had not 500 men 



INDIAN WARS. 



171 



under his command, and did not expect an attack. 
On hearing this, the Indians attacked Gen. Wayne 
with a confidence inspired by their supposed superi- 
ority of numbers, and were repulsed as before 
mentioned. After the action. Major Campbell, in 
whose custody the Indians had left Wells, inquired 
his motives for deceiving them; he answered, "for 
the good of my country. 5 " For this heroic action 
he was unfeelingly delivered to the Indians, in whose 
hands it is supposed he experienced every torture 
that savage barbarity could invent or inflict. The 
circumstances respecting Mr. Wells were related 
by a British drummer, who deserted from the fort 
to Gen. Wayne. 

A council of Indians was held a few days after 
their defeat by Gen. Wayne, in which British 
agents endeavoured to persuade them to risk an- 
other action ; but this they refused to do, express- 
ing a willingness to bury the bloody hatchet and 
return to their homes. Their loss they declared to 
be 200, and that their whole force at the com- 
mencement of the action amounted to 1500 Indians, 
and 80 Canadians. The body of the collector of Ni- 
agara was found among the slain. 

But so long as the savages are furnished with all 
the necessary warlike stores, by foreign emissaries 
aL.J traders at Detroit, we have no reason to suppose 
that they will be much disposed to maintain a long 
peace with the Americans. 

The latter ought certainly to take immediate 
possession of posts that were ceded to them more 
than eight ears since. Until this is done, the fron- 
tiers of the Western States cannot rest in security, 
although formidable armies may be sent against the 
In. Hans; indeed so long as these garrisons afford 
them an assylum and succour on all occasions. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



gov. Harrison's engagement with the sav- 
ages ©N THE WABASH. 

We should have been extremely happy to have 
closed the list of savage barbarities with the Jast 
chapter; but, after a cessation of hostilities on their 
part of more than 16 years, we find them once more 
collecting in a formidable body on our frontiers, and 
(instigated by a blood-thirsty savage of the Shawa- 
noe tribe, termed "the Prophet, 53 ) commencing an 
unprovoked attack on the American troops stationed 
thereon. 

The conduct of the Wabash Indians becoming 
suspicious to our government, in consequence of 
their many thievish excursions and hasty prepara- 
tions for an offensive attack, Gov. Harrison, with 
2000 men, (350 regulars and the remainder mili- 
tia) were ordered to proceed from the neighbour- 
hood of Vincennes to the line, and demand of the 
Prophet the object of his real intentions. The 
troops commenced their march on the 28th Sep- 
tember, and nothing important occurred until their 
arrival on the line, where they remained near a 
month, and built a strong fort, which in honour to 
the commander in chief, was called fort Harrison. 
The Indians in a friendly manner almost every day 
visited the camp, and held councils with the Gov- 
ernor, but would not accede to his terms, which 
were, that their leader (the Prophet) should give 
up the property stolen from the Americans; and 
send all their warriors to their different tribes ; 
the Governor therefore determined on attacking 
them. On the 29th October. 1811, the troops 
left fort Harrison and took up their line of march 
for the Prophet's town, where they arrived on the 
6th November. When within about half a mile 



INDIAN WARS. 173 

of the town, the troops formed the line of battle, 
which the Indians perceiving, sent three of their 
chiefs with a flag of truce, begging that their lives 
might be spared, pledging themselves that they would 
not take up the tomahawk against the troops, and that 
if they would encamp near the town, in the morn- 
ing they would come to such terms as the governor 
should propose. This lulled the troops into security, 
and they encamped about half a mile back of the 
town. Fifteen minutes before five o'clock the next 
morning, the savages commenced a furious attack on 
the left flank of the troops, but not a single gun was 
fired by the sentinels on the guard in that direction, 
nor did they make the least resistance, but abandoned 
their officer and fled into camp 5 and the first notice 
which the troops of that flank had of the danger, was 
from the yells of the savages within a short distance 
of the line ; but even under those circumstances, the 
men were not wanting to themselves or to the occa- 
sion. Such of them as were awake, or were easily 
awakened, seized their arms and took their stations; 
others which were more tardy, had to contend with 
the enemy in the doors of their tents. The storm first 
fell upon Captain Barton's company of the 4th U. S. 
regiment, and Captain Geiger's company of mounted 
riflemen, w hich formed the left angle of the rear line. 
The fire upon these was excessively severe, and they 
suffered considerably before relief could be brought 
to them. Some few Indians passed into the encamp- 
ment near the angle, and one or two penetrated to 
some distance before they were killed. 

Under all these discouraging circumstances, the 
troops (nineteen twentieths of w hom had never been 
in action before) behaved in a manner that can never 
be too much applauded. They took their places 
without noise and with less confusion than could have 
been expected from veterans placed in a similar situa- 
tion. As soon as the governor could mount his horse 
he rode to the angle that was attacked. He found 
23 



174 



INDIAN WARS. 



that Barton's company had suffered severely, and the 
left of Geiger's entirely broken. He immediately or- 
dered Cook's company and the late Captain Went- 
worth's, under Lieut. Peters, to be brought up from 
the centre of the rear line, where the ground was 
muck more defensible, and formed across the angle 
in support of Barton and Geiger's. His attention 
was there engaged by a heavy firing upon the left of 
the front line, where were stationed the small compa- 
ny of the United States riflemen (then however arm- 
ed with muskets ) and the companies of Baen, Smell- 
ing and Prescott, of the 4th regiment. He found Ma- 
jor Daveiss forming the dragoons in the rear of those 
companies, and understanding that the heaviest part 
of the enemy's fire proceeded from some trees about 
15 or 20 paces in front of those companies, he direct- 
ed the Major to dislodge them with a part of the 
dragoons. Unfortunately the Major's gallantry de- 
termined him to execute the order with a smaller 
force than was sufficient, which enabled the enemy to 
avoid him in front and attack his flanks. The Major 
was mortally wounded, and his party driven back. 
The Indians were however immediately and gallantly 
dislodged from their advantageous position, by Capt. 
Snelling at the head of his company. In the course 
of a few minutes after the commencement of the at- 
tack, the fire extended along the left flank, and part 
of the rear line. Upon Spencer's mounted riflemen, 
and the right of Warwick's company, which was 
posted on the right of the rear line, it was excessively 
severe. Capt. Spencer and his first and second lieu- 
tenants were killed, and Capt. Warwick was mortally 
wounded. Those companies, however, still bravely 
maintained their posts, but Spencer had suffered so 
severely, and having originally too much ground to 
occupy, the commander reinforced him with iiobb ? s 
company of riflemen, which had been driven, or by 
mistake ordered from their position on the left flank 
towards the centre of the camp, and filled the va- 
cancy that had been occupied by Robb, with Pres- 



IN J) UN WARS. 



175 



cott's company of the 4th United States regiment. 
His great object was to keep the lines entire, to pre- 
vent the enemy from breaking into the camp until 
day-light, which should enable them to make a gen- 
eral and effectual charge. With this view he had 
reinforced everv part of the line that had suffered 
much ; and as soon as the approach of morning dis- 
covered itself, he withdrew from the front line, Snell- 
iog, Poesy (under Lieut. Albright) and Scott's com- 
panies, and from the rear line Wilson and Norris's 
companies, and drew them up upon the left flank; at 
the same time ordered Cook and Baen's companies, 
the former from the rear and the latter from the front 
line, to reinforce the right flank ; foreseeing that at 
these points the enemy would make their last efforts. 
Major Wells, who commanded on the left flank, not 
knowing his intentions precisely, had taken the com- 
mand of these companies, had charged the enemy be- 
fore he had formed the body of dragoons, with which 
he meant to support the infantry 5 a small detachment 
of these were ready, and proved amply sufficient for 
the purpose. The Indians were thrown into confu- 
sion and driven by the infantry at the point of the 
bayonet, and the dragoons pursued and forced them 
into a marsh, where they could not be followed. 
Capt. Cook and Lieut. Larabee had marched their 
companies to the right flank, had formed them under 
the fire of the enemy, and being then joined by the 
riflemen of that flank, they charged the Indians, kill- 
ed a number, and put the rest to a precipitate flight. 

The action was maintained with the greatest obsti- 
nacy and perseverance by both parties. The Indians 
manifested a ferocity quite uncommon even with them. 
To their savage fury our troops opposed that cool and 
deliberate valour which is characteristic of the Chris- 
tian soldier. 

Capt, Spencer was wounded in the head. He ex- 
horted his men to fight valiantly. He was shot 
through both thighs, and fell, still continuing to en- 
courage them. He was raised up, and received a 
ball through his body, which put an immediate end to 



176 



INDIAN WARS. 



his existence. Capt. Warwick was shot immedi- 
ately through the body. Being taken to the surgery 
to be dressed, as soon as it was over (being a man of 
great bodily vigour and still able to walk) he insisted 
upon going back to head his company, although it was 
evident that he had but a few hours to live. 

There were about 179 of the troops killed and 
wounded. It was supposed the enemy were about 
700 strong, and what they lost about 400 in the en- 
gagement. The day succeeding the action, the troops 
yet fire to their town and destroyed every thing valua- 
ble, and the morning ensuing struck their tents and 
commenced their march for Vincennes, where they ar- 
rived in safety after a most fatiguing campaign of 55 
days, and marching the distance of 320 miles. 

The following is a list of the killed and wounded of 
the army, in the engagement. 

Killed, 1 Aid-de-camp, 1 Captain, 2 Subalterns, 1 
Sergeant, 2 Corporals, 30 privates. 

Wounded, since dead, 1 Major, 2 Captains, 22 
privates. 

Wounded, 2 Lieut. Colonels, 1 Surgeon's mate, 2 
Captains, 3 Subalterns, 9 Sergeants, 5 Corporals, 1 
Musician, 102 privates. 

Total killed and wounded, 188. 

Names of Officers killed and wounded, as per gene- 
ral return. 

General Staff: Killed, Col. Abraham Owens, 
Aid-de-camp to the Commander in Chief. 

Field and Staff: Wounded, Lieut. Col. Joseph 
Bartholomews, commanding Indiana militia; Lieut. 
Col. Luke Decker, of do. 5 Maj. Joseph II. Daviess, 
since dead, commanding a squadron of dragoons ; Dr. 
Edward Scull, of the Indiana militia 5 Adjutant 
James Hunter, of mounted riflemen. 

United States Infantry, including the late Captain 
Whitney's rifle company: Wounded, Capt. W. i\ 
Baer., acting Major, since dead; Lieut. George P. 
Peters, Lieut. George Gooding, Ensign Henry 
Burchstead. 



INDIAN WARS. 



177 



Colonei Decker's detachment of Indiana militia; 
Wounded, Captain Jacob Warrick, since dead. 

Major Redman's detachment of Indiana militia: 
Wounded, Captain John Norris. 

Major Wells's detachment of mounted riflemen: 
Wounded, Captain Frederick Guiger. 

Captain Spencer's company, including Lieut. Ber- 
ry ? s detachment of mounted riflemen: Killed, Capt. 
Spier Spencer ; First Lieut. Richard M'Mahan, Lt. 
Thomas Berry. 

Copy of a letter from Gov. Harrison to the Honora- 
ble Secretary of War 9 dated 

" Vincennes, Dec. 4, 1811. 

u Sir — I have the honour to inform you that two 
principal Chiefs of the Kickapoo of the praire arriv- 
ed here bearing a flag, on the evening before last. 
They informed that they came in consequence of a 
message from the Chief of that part of the Kickapoos 
which had joined the Prophet, requiring them to do 
so, and that the said chief is to be here in a day or 
two. The account which they give of the late con- 
federacy under the Prophet is as follows. 

u The Prophet with his Shawanoes is at a small 
Huron village about twelve miles from his former re- 
sidence, on this side the Wabash, where also are 12 
or 15 Hurons. The Kickapoos are encamped near 
the Tippicanoe. The Potawatomies have scattered 
and gone to different villages of that tribe. The 
Winebagoes had all set out on their return to their 
own country, excepting one chief and nine men who 
remained at their former village. The latter had at- 
tended Tecumseh in his tour to the southward, and 
had only returned to the Prophet's town the day be- 
fore the action. The Prophet had sent a message to 
the Kickapoos of the praire, to request that he might 
be permitted to retire to their town. This was posi- 
tively refused, and a warning sent to him not to come 



178 



INDIAN WARS. 



there. He then sent to request that four of his men 
might attend the Kickapoo chief here. This was also 
refused. 

" These chiefs say on the whole, that all the tribes 
who lost warriors in the late action attribute their 
misfortune to the Prophet alone ; that they constantly 
reproach him with their misfortunes, and threaten 
him with death ; that they are all desirous of making 
their peace with the United States ; that the Proph- 
et's followers were fully impressed with a belief, that 
they could defeat us with ease ; that it was their in- 
tention to have attacked us at fort Harrison if we had 
gone higher 5 that the attack made on our sentinels 
at fort Harrison was intended to shut the door against 
the accommodation ; that the Winebagoes had 40 
warriors killed in the action, and the Kickapoos 11, 
and 10 wounded; that they have never heard how 
many Pottawatomies and other tribes were killed ; 
that the Pottawatomie chief left by me on the battle 
ground is since dead of his wounds, but that he faith- 
fully delivered my speech to the different tribes, and 
warmly urged them to abandon the Prophet and sub- 
mit to my terms. 

"I cannot say, Sir, how much of the above may be 
depended on. I believe, however, that the statement 
made by the chief is generally correct, particularly 
with regard to the present disposition of the Indians. 
It is certain that our frontiers have never enjoyed 
more profound tranquillity than at thi^time. Before 
the expedition, not a fortnight passed over without 
some vexatious depredation being committed. The 
Kickapoo chiefs certainly tell an untruth, when they 
say that there were but II of this tribe killed and 10 
wounded. It is impossible to believe that fewer were 
wounded than killed. They acknowledge, however, 
that the Indians have never sustained so severe a de- 
feat since their acquaintance with the white people. 
I have the honour to be, &lc. 

"WM. HENRY HARRISON. 

«'Ho». Wm. Eustis, Secretary of War.*' 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INDIANS, DURING THE 
LATE WAR WITH GREAT BRITAIN, 

In the course of the late war which prevailed be- 
tween America and Great Britain, the latter having 
engaged many of the savages in her cause, Gen. Har- 
rison (who was appointed to the command of the vol- 
unteers and drafted militia of Ohio, &,c.) held a coun- 
cil with a number of Indian Chiefs, who had profess- 
ed neutral sentiments, to whom he made three propo- 
sitions: "to take up arms in behalf of the United 
States — to remove within the lines and remain neu- 
tral — or, to go to the enemy and seek their protec- 
tion." After a short consultation, many of them ac- 
cepted the first; and made preparations to accompany 
him in the invasion of Canada. The hostile Indians, 
however, continued to make inroads into the settle- 
ments, and committed frequent barbarities. 

The first of September, 1812, a considerable body 
of British and Indians proceeded from fort Maiden, 
to lay waste the frontiers of Ohio. A principal object 
appears to have been, the capture of fort Wayne. 
They burnt several valuable buildings, and killed 
many of the inhabitants 5 among whom was a brother 
of Gov. Meigs. 

On the 8th of November, a detachment of 700 men, 
commanded by Col. Campbell, left Franklinton on an 
expedition against the Miami Indians, residing at the 
head of the Wabash. On the 17th December, they 
reached one of their villages, killed 8 warriors, and 
took 36 prisoners. They set fire to the village, and 
encamped a few miles therefrom. A little before the 
break of day, they w|ye attacked by the exasperated 
savages in their camp, shouting and yelling horribly. 



180 



INDIAN WARS. 



The Americans sustained the attack until day-light, 
when the Indians were charged and dispersed with 
the loss of 35 killed. The loss of the American 
troops was 8 killed, and 29 wounded. 

On the 14th January, 1812, Col. Lewis was des- 
patched to attack a large body of Indians encamped 
near the river Raisin. On the 18th the attack com- 
menced ; on the first onset the savages raised their ac- 
customed yell, but the noise was drowned in the re- 
turning shouts of their dauntless assailants. They 
advanced boldly to the charge and drove them in all 
directions. On the first fire 16 of the Indians fell. 
About 40 were killed. Col. Lewis's party lost 12 
killed and 52 wounded. 

On the 18th, Gen. Winchester proceeded w ith a re- 
inforcement of 800 men to the village of Frenchtown. 
On the 22d they were attacked by a combined force 
of tbejehemy under command of Tecumseh and Proc- 
tor. The American troops were in a moment ready 
for the reception of the enemy. The right wing sus- 
tained the attack for about 30 minutes, when, over- 
powered by numbers, they retreated over the river, 
and were met by a large body of Indians. The 
troops finding their retreat cut off, resolved to sell 
their lives as dear as possible, and fought with des- 
peration ; but few of these brave fellows, however, 
escaped the tomahawk. The left wing with equal 
bravery maintained their ground within their pickets. 
The Indians and regulars made three different charges 
upon them, but the troops, with the most determined 
bravery and presence of mind, reserved their fire un- 
til the enemy advanced within point blank shot ; they 
then opened a most galling fire upon them, and mow- 
ed down their ranks until they were compelled to re- 
treat in confusion. The Americans lost nearly 400 
men in killed and wounded, and missing. The cour- 
age of brave men was never more severely tested. 
The party that sought a retreat at the commence- 
ment of the action, were closely pursued, surround- 
ed and literally cut to pieces by the savages. Not 
one escaped the scalping knife ! 



INDIAN WARS. 181 

On the 30th of January, Gen. Harrison despatch- 
ed Capt. Lamor, Doctor M 9 Keenhan and a French- 
man with a flag of truce to Maiden. They encamp- 
ed the first night near the rapids, and hoisted the 
white flag ; but this was not respected. The In- 
dians fired upon them while asleep, killed Lamor, 
wounded Doctor M'Keenhan, and took him and the 
Frenchman prisoners. 

Gen. Harrison received information that a large 
body of Indians were collected on Presque Isle, near 
the Miami, on the ninth February proceeded with a 
detachment to attack them. The enemy fled on 
the approach of the troops, which pursued them al- 
most to the river Raisin, but without being enabled 
to overtake them. Such was their desire to come up 
with the foe that they marched 60 miles in 24 hours. 

The hostile Indians continued to make inroads in- 
to the settlements, and committed many murders. 
An eveat took place, however, that served in some 
measure to check the audacity of the Indians. As 
Col. Ball, with a small squadron, was descending the 
Sandusky, the foremost of his party were fired upon 
by a band of 18 or 20 Indians, who had placed 
themselves in ambush for the purpose of intercepting 
the mail carrier. The Colonel instantly charged upon 
them, and drove them from their hiding place. The 
ground was favourable for cavalry, and the savages 
finding neither mercy nor the possibility of escape, 
whooped and shouted horribly, and fought desperate- 
ly till they were all to a man cut to pieces. Col. 
Ball was twice dismounted, and opposed in personal 
contest to an Indian of gigantic stature. It was a 
desperate and doubtful struggle $ life was at stake ; 
both exerted to the utmost. An officer rode up and 
rescued the Colonel, by shooting the Indian through 
the head. Not an Indian after this ventured to cross 
the Sandusky in quest of plunder. 

On the first day of August, Gen. Procter appeared 
with 500 regulars and about 800 Indians of the 
most ferocious kind, before fort Stephenson, 20 miles 
24 



182 



INDIAN WARS. 



above the mouth of the river Sandusky. There 
were not more than 133 effective men in the garri- 
son, and the workg covered one acre of ground. 
The object of the enemy was to make such a dispo- 
sition of his forces as to prevent the escape of the 
garrison, provided they should attempt it. A messen- 
ger was then sent to demand the surrender of the 
fort. He was met by Ensign Shipp, to whom the 
messenger observed that General Proctor had a con- 
siderable body of regular troops, and a great many 
Indians, whom it was impossible to controul, and if 
the fort was taken by force, he must expect that the 
mildest instruments made use of would be the toma- 
hawk and scalping knife ! Shipp replied, that it was 
the commander's intention to defend the garrison or 
be buried in it, and that they might do their worst. 
The messinger, startled at the reply of Shipp, again 
addressed him: " You are a fine young man, I pity 
your situation, for God's sake surrender, and prevent 
the dreadful slaughter which must inevitably follow 
resistance!" The gallant Shipp turned from him 
with indignation, and was immediately seized by a 
frightful looking savage, who attempted to wrest his 
sword from him, but the Ensign was fortunately too 
quick for him, and buried the blade to the hilt in his 
body, and succeeded in reaching the fort in safety. 
The attack now commenced. About 4 P. M. all the 
enemy's guns were concentrated against the north- 
western angle of the fort, for the purpose of making 
a breach. To counteract the effect of their fire, the 
commander caused that point to be strengthened by 
means of bags of flour, sand and other materials, in 
such manner that the balls of the enemy did but lit- 
tle injury. But the enemy supposed that their fire 
had sufficiently shattered the pickets, advanced to 
the number of 600 to storm the place, the Indians 
shouting in their usual manner. As soon as the ditch 
was pretty well filled with the copper-coloured assail- 
ants, the commander of the fort ordered a six pound- 
er, which had been masked in the block-house, to be 



INDIAN WARS. 



183 



discharged. It had been loaded with a double 
charge of musket balls and slugs. The piece com- 
pletely raked the ditch from end to end. The yell 
of the savages was at this instant horrible. The 
first fire levelled the one half in death ; the second 
and third either killed or wounded all except eleven, 
who were covered by the dead bodies. The Amer- 
icans had but one killed and seven slightly wounded. 
Early the ensuing morning the few regulars and In- 
dians that survived, retreated down the river, aban- 
doning all their baggage. 

While Procter was investing fort Stephenson, 
Tecumseh, with a band of 2000 warriors and British 
troops, approached fort Meigs, but was soon driven 
therefrom. 

It was the general opinion of the inhabitants that 
there were 1500 Indian warriors under Marpot and 
Split- Log (Indian chiefs) lurking in the woods be- 
tween the rivers Rouge and Huron of Lake St. Clair. 

On the 2d October arrangements were made for 
pursuing the retreating enemy up the Thames. The 
army was put in motion on the morning of the 4th. 
Gen. Harrison accompanied Col. Johnson, and was 
followed by Gov. Shelby with the infantry. Having 
passed the ground where the enemy had encamped 
the night before, the General directed the advance 
of Col. Johnson's regiment to accelerate their march, 
for the purpose of ascertaining the distance of the 
enemy. 

The troops had now advanced within three miles of 
the Moravian town, and within one mile of the enemy. 
Across a narrow strip of land near an Indian village, 
the enemy were drawn up in a line of battle, to pre* 
vent the advance of the American troops. The 
British troops amounted to (500 ; the Indians to more 
than 1200. About 150 regulars, under Col. Ball, 
were ordered to advance and amuse the enemy, 
and should a favourable opportunity present to seize 
his cannon. A small party of friendly Indians were 
directed to move under the bank. The regiment of 
Col. Joknson was drawn up in close column, with its 



184 



IKD1AN WARS. 



right a few yards distant from the road. Gen. 
Desha's division covered the left of Johnson'y regi- 
ment. Gen. Cass and Commodore Perry volunteered 
as aids to Gen. Harrison. 

The army advanced till the mounted men received 
the fire of the enemy, at the distance of about 200 
yards. The charge was now beat, and in an instant 
1000 cavalry were put in motion ; the right, led on by 
Col. Johnson, broke through the enemy's line and 
formed in their rear. The Indians and British were 
appalled at so unexpected an onset. The whole was 
the work of a moment. Indeed, had the enemy 
shown the least disposition to resist, the greater part 
would have been put to the sword. Never was ter- 
ror more strongly depicted in the countenances of men 
than in those of the affrighted savages ! 

On the left the contest was much more serious. 
Col. Johnson, whose regiment was there stationed, 
received a galling fire from the Indians, who seemed 
not disposed to give ground. The brave Colonel 
gallantly led his men into the midst of them, and was 
personally attacked by a chief, whom he despatched 
with his cutlass at the moment the former was aiming 
a blow at him with his tomahawk. The savages, find- 
ing the fire of the troops too warm for them,fled across 
the hills and attempted to seek shelter in a piece of 
w T oods on the left, where they were closely pursued by 
the cavalry. It was at the margin of the wood that 
Tecumseh stationed himself, armed with a spear, 
tomahawk, &c. endeavouring to rally and persuade 
his men to return to the attack. At this point a 
considerable body of Indians had collected ; yet, re- 
gardless of danger, the heroic Johnson rushed into 
the midst of them; indeed so thick were they at 
this moment that they could have easily reached him 
with their arrows. He rode a white horse, and was 
pointed out by Tecumseh as an officer of rank. His 
horse was shot under him, and his clothes, saddle 
and person pierced with bullets. At the moment his 
horse fell, Tecumseh rushed towards him with an up- 
lifted tomahawk, to give the fatal blow ; but in this 



INDIAN WARS. 



185 



perilous predicament his presence of mind did not 
forsake him. He drew a pistol from his holster and 
laid this distinguished warrior dead at his feet. He 
could do no more. The many wounds that he had 
received, and the loss of blood deprived him of 
strength to stand. He received five shots, three in 
the right thigh, and two in the left arm. Fortu- 
nately for him, at the moment of Tecumseh's fall, the 
savages gave way, which saved him from their tom- 
ahawks. No less than 6 of Col Johnson's men and 
22 Indians fell within 25 yards of the spot where 
Tecumseh was killed. [See Frontispiece.] 

The Indians continued a brisk fire from the margin 
of the wood until a fresh regiment was called into 
action to oppose them. A company of cavalry hav- 
ing crossed the hills and gained the rear of the sava- 
ges, the route became general. The enemy fought 
bravely, and sustained a heavy loss in killed and 
wounded. The death of their leader, Tecumseh, 
was an irreparable loss to them. 

Tecumseh was the most extraordinary Indian that 
has ever appeared in history. He was by birth a 
Shawanese, and would have been a great man in any 
age or nation. Independent of the most consummate 
courage and skill as a warrior, and all the character- 
istic acuteness of his race, he was endowed by na- 
ture with the attributes of mind necessary for great 
politicaU;ombinations. His acute understanding, very 
early in me, informed him that his countrymen had lost 
their importance ; that they were gradually yielding 
to the whites, who were acquiring an imposing in- 
fluence over them. Instigated by these considera- 
tions, and, perhaps^ by his natural ferocity and attach- 
ment to war, he became a decided enemy to the 
whites, and imbibed an invincible determination (he 
surrendered it with his life) to regain for his country 
the proud independence he supposed she had lost. 
For a number of years he was foremost in every act 
of hostilityxommitted against those he conceived the 
oppressors of his countrymen, and was equally re- 



186 



INDIAN WARS. 



markable for intrepidity as skill, in many combats 
that took place under his banner. Aware, at length, 
of the extent, number and power of the United 
States, he became fully convinced of the futility of 
any single nation of red men attempting to cope with 
them. He formed, therefore, the grand scheme of 
uniting all the tribes east of the Mississippi into 
hostility against the United States. This was afield 
worthy of his great and enterprizing genius. He com- 
menced in the year 1809 ; and in the execution of 
his project he displayed an unequalled adroitness, 
eloquence and courage. He insinuated himself into 
every tribe from Michilimackinack to Georgia, and 
was invariably successful in his attempts to bring 
them over to his views. He played upon all their 
feelings, but principally upon their superstition, and 
sometimes assumed the character of a prophet, and 
carried with him a red stick, to which he attached 
certain mystical properties, and the acceptance of 
which was considered as the joining of his party ; 
hence the name of Red Sticks applied to all Indians 
hostile to the United States. Unfortunately for Te- 
cumseh, but happily for the United States, was it, 
that before his plan had become matured, before his 
arrangements for general hostility were perfected, 
before in fact he had brought into the field any of 
his forces, his brother made a premature attack upon 
the forces of the United States under the command of 
Gen. Harrison, in the summer of 1811, at Tippeca- 
noe, in which he suffered a signal defeat. 

This disaster marred the prospects of the gallant 
Tecumseh ; his own soul was unshaken ; but it damp- 
ed the ardour of his associates ; aad although many 
continued firm in their warlike attitude, nor shrunk 
from a contest that had commenced with defeat,all the 
efforts of Tecumseh were unavailing to supply the 
links thus broken in his chain of operations. The war 
against England, declared soon after this event by the 
Unit ed States, opened new views to the talents of Te- 
cumseh. His merits were duly appreciated by the 



INDIAN WARS. 



187 



British government, and they made him a brigadier 
general in their service. At the head of his formi- 
dable warriors he more than once turned the scale of 
victory against the Americans, and laid down his life 
for the cause he had espoused. 

The day after the battle, the American troops 
took possession of the Moravian town, where they 
found great quantities of such provision as were very 
acceptable to the troops. Among the trophies of 
the day, captured from the British, were six brass 
field pieces that had been surrendered by Hull on 
two of which was the motto: " Surrendered by Bur- 
goyne at Saratoga! 55 The town was found deserted 
and so panic struck were some of the squaws in 
their flight, that they are said to have thrown their 
papooses into the river, to prevent their being butch- 
ered by the Americans ! The Indians who inhab- 
ited this town had been very active in committing de- 
predations upon the frontiers, massacreing the inhabi- 
tants, &c. for which reason the town was destroyed 
b^ the troops previous to their leaving it. 

Soon after the return of Gen. Harrisonto Detroit, 
the Ottawas, Chippewas, Pattawatomies, Mi ami est 
and Kickapoos, proposed a suspension of hostilities, 
and agreed to " take hold of the same tomahawk 
with the Americans, and to strike all who were or 
might be enimies of the United States. 5 ' They of- 
fered their women and children as hostages. Walk- 
in- the- water, a distinguished Chief who had taken 
an active part in the late engagement, waited upon 
the General in person to implore peace. The white 
flag which he bore in his hand attracted a great 
crowd, who were struck with admiration at the firm- 
ness with which this distinguished warrior passed 
through the ranks of the American troops, whom he 
so gallantly opposed but a few days before; yet his 
adverse fortune was calculated to depress his spirits 
and produce humility. Almost all the other chiefs 
had been killed or had surrendered themselves prison- 
ers, and he was without the means of living or resisting. 



CHAPTER XV. 



CREEK WAR, MASSACRE AT. FORT MIMS, BATTLE Af 
TALLCJSHATCffES, TALLEGADA, &C. 



The enemy, apparently disposed to enlist the sav- 
ages in the war, at its commencement despatched 
messengers to several of the Indian tribes in the Mis- 
sisippi Territory, distinguished by the names of 
Creeks, Choctaws and Chickasaws, to persuade them 
to take a part with them in their contest with the 
United States. The most friendly relations had 
subsisted between these tribes and the United States 
for many years: and the latter, dictated by a gene- 
rous policy, had been successful in their endeavours 
to introduce among them the improvements of civil- 
ized society. But so ardent is the propensity of the 
Indian character for war, that many were induced to 
commit the most wanton and unprovoked acts of bar- 
barity upon the Americans. 

The most experienced and well disposed chiefs, 
aware of the evils a war with the United States must 
produce upon the tribes, made use of their best en- 
deavours to suppress their acts of cruelty ; but those 
determined on war were not disposed to listen to the 
dictates of discretion or wisdom, and commenced 
open hostilities against the United States by one of 
the most bloody massacres recorded in Indian history. 
The particulars of th© bloody transaction are copied 
from a letter of Judge Toulman, dated September 
Tth, 1813. 

61 The dreadful catastrophe which we have been 
some time anticipating has at length taken place. 
The Indians have broken in upon us, in numbers and 



fit DI A If WARS. 



189 



fury unexampled. Our settlement is overrun, and our 
country, I fear, is on the eve of being depopulated. 
The accounts which we received led us to expect an 
attack about the full moon of August; and it was known 
at Pensacola, when the ammunition was given to the 
Indians who were to be the leaders of the respective 
parties destined to attack the different parts of our 
settlement. The attempt made to deprive them of 
their ammunition, issued by the Spaniards on the re- 
commendation of a British general on their way from 
Pensacola, and in which it v/as said the Indians lost 
more than 20 men, although only one third of our 
people stood their ground, it is highly probable in 
some measure retarded their operations 5 and the 
steady succession of rain contributed to produce the 
same effect. Had their attempt been conducted with 
more judgment and supported with more vigour, there 
would have been an end, for a time, of Indian warfare. 
In consequence of the delay, our citizens began to 
grow careless and confident ; and several families who 
had removed from Tensaw to fort Stoddert, returned 
again and fell a sacrifice to the merciless savages. 

" Our whole plan of defence was erroneous. It 
was adopted by the citizens under an imperfect view 
of their danger. From the best accounts which I can 
obtain, I suppose that there must have beenfO forts 
erected on the two sides of the river between fort 
Stoddert and the upper settlements, a distance of 
about 70 miles, which in a country so thinly settled 
as ours, could not be maintained, even if they had 
been better constructed. About the £0th of August, 
intelligence was communicated to us by the Choctaw 
Indians, that in 8 or 10 days an attack would be made 
by distinct bodies of Creeks on Minis' fort, in the Ten- 
saw settlement, which is on the east side of Alabama, 
nearly opposite to fort Stoddert ; on the forts in the 
forks of Tombigby and Alabama; on Easely's fort, 
near the Choctaw line on the Tombigby, and finally 
on the fort and United States' trading house at H. 
Hopkins. A very valuable officer, Major Beasely of 



190 



INDIAN WARS. 



the Missippi Territory volunteers, commanded at 
fort Minis. About a mile or two from it was another 
fort, at Pierce's mills ; and a few miles below that 
place, at another mill, a small party of soldiers was al- 
so stationed. Minis, however, where were the great- 
est number of families and property collected, seems 
to have been the sole object of attack in that quarter. 

" A few days before the attack, some negroes of 
Mr. M'Girt, who lived in that part of the Creek ter- 
ritory which is inhabited by half breeds, had been 
sent up the Alabama to his plantation for corn ; three 
of them were taken by a party of Indians. One es- 
caped and brought down news of the approach of the 
Indians. The officer gave but little credit to him; 
but they made some further preparation to receive 
the enemy. On the next day Mr. James Cornels, a 
half breed, and some white men, who had been out on 
the late battle ground, and discovered the trail of a 
considerable body of Indians going towards Mr. M'- 
Girt's, came to the fort and informed the commanding 
officer of the discovery. Though their report did not 
appear to receive full credit, it occasioned great exer- 
tions; and on Saturday and Sunday considerable work 
was done to put the fort in a state of defence. On 
Sunday morning three negroes were sent out to attend 
the cattle, who soon returned with an account that 
they had seen 20 Indians. Scouts were sent out to 
ascertain the truth of the report. They returned and 
declared that they could see no signs of Indians. One 
of the negroes belonging to Mr. Randon was whipped 
for bringing what they deemed a false report. He 
was sent out again on Monday, and saw a body of In- 
dians approaching; but afraid of being whipped, he 
did not return to Mims but to Pierce's fort ; but be- 
fore his story could be communicated, the attack was 
made. The commanding officer called upon Mr. 
Fletcher, who owned another of the negroes, to whip 
him also. He believed the boy and resisted two or 
three applications ; but at length they had him ac- 
tually brought out for the purpose, when the Indians 



INDIAN WARS. 



191 



appeared in view of the fort. The gate was open. 
The Indians had to come through an open field 150 
yards wide, before they could reach the fort, and yet 
they were within thirty steps of the fort, at 11 in the 
morning, before they were noticed The sentry then 
gave the cry of 'Indians!' and they immediately set up 
a most terrible war-whoop and rushed into the gate 
wiih inconceivable rapidity, and got within it before 
the people of the fort had an opportunity of shutting 
it. This decided their fate. Major Beasely was 
shot through the body near the gate. Be called to 
the men to take care of the ammunition and to retreat 
to the house. He went himself to a kitchen where it 
is supposed he must have been burnt. 

* 4 The fort was originally square. Major Beasely 
had it enlarged, by extending the lines of the two sides 
about 50 feet, and putting up a new side, into which 
the gate was removed. The old li-ne of pickets stood, 
and the Indians, upon rushing in the gate, obtained 
possession of this additional part, and through the 
port holes of the old line of pickets, fired on the people 
who held the interior. On the opposite side of the 
fort, an offset or bastion was made round the back 
gate, ! hich being open on the out side, was also taken 
posse: Ion of by the Indians, who with the axes that 
lay scattered about, immediately began to cut down 
the gate. There was a large body of Indians, though 
they probably did not exceed 400. Our people 
seemed to sustain the attack with undaunted spirit. 
They took possession of the port holes in the other 
lines of the fort, and fired on the Indians who re- 
mained in the field. Some of the Indians got on the 
block-house, at one of the corners ; but after much fir- 
ing upon the people they were dislodged. They suc- 
ceeded, however, in setting fire to a house near the 
pickets, from which it was communicated to the kitch- 
en and from thence to the main dwelling house. They 
attempted to do it by burning arrows, but f:n l eJ. 
When the people in the fort saw the Indians retained 
full possession «f the outer court, and the gate con- 



192 



INDIAN WARS. 



tinned open, that their men fell very fast, and that 
their houses were in flames, they began to despond. 
Some determined to cut their way through the pick- 
ets and escape. Of the whole number of white men 
and half-breeds in the fort, it is supposed that not 
more than 25 or 30 escaped, and of these many were 
wounded. The rest and almost all the women and 
children fell a sacrifice either to the arms of the In- 
dians or to the flames. The battle terminated about 
an hour before sun-set. 

" The information was thus far, given to me by a 
person of character and credibility, who was present 
during the whole scene, and who escaped through the 
opening made in the pickets. The women and chil- 
dren took refuge in an upper story of the dwelling 
house ; and it is said that the Indians, when the build- 
ings were in flames, danced round them with savage 
delight. The helpless victims perished in the flames. 
It is also reported, that when the buildings were 
burning, and the few who remained were exposed to 
the fire of the enemy, they collected many of the guns 
of the deceased and threw both of them and the re- 
maining stock of ammunition into the flames, to pre- 
vent their becoming subservient in the hands of the 
Indians, to the destruction of their fellow citizens. 
Surely this was an instance of determined resolution 
and benevolent foresight, of which there are not many 
examples. 

u But notwithstanding the bravery ©f our fellow cit- 
izens, the Indians carried all before them,and murder- 
ed the armed and the helpless without discrimination. 
Our loss is 7 commissioned officers and about 100 non- 
commissioned officers, and privates, of the first regi- 
ment of the Missisippi Territory volunteers. There 
were about 24 families of men, women and children in 
the fort, of whom almost all have perished, amounting 
to 160 souls. I reckon, however, among them about 
six families of half breeds, and seven Indians, There 
were also about 100 negroes, of whom a large pro- 
portion were killed. The half breeds hafe uniformly 



INDIAN WARS. 



193 



done themselves honour, and those who survive will 
afford great assistance in the prosecution of the w ar. 
Some of the most respectable among them were at 
Pierce's fort, and are ready, with all their dexterity 
and ail their courage, to avenge the death of their 
friends, and the destruction of their property. It was 
principally through them that we learnt that the real 
object of the Indians in obtaining ammunition at Pen- 
sacola, was to make immediate war on the white 
people, and that the idea entertained in the eastern 
part of the Creek Nation, that this was only a secon- 
dary and remote object, was not founded in fact, and 
was probably suggested for the purpose of putting us 
off our guard, and keeping out of sight the real inten- 
tion of their revolt against the constituted authori- 
ties of their nation 55 



BATTLE AT TALLUSHATCHES. 

On the 1st November, Gen. Jackson, receiving in- 
formation that a considerable number of hostile 
Creeks were embodied at Tallushatches, he detached 
Gen. John Coffee with a number of men to attack and 
destroy the place, which he completely effected. The 
following is Gen. Coffee's oflicial report to Gen. Jack- 
son, of the expedition. 

" Pursuant to your order of the 2d, I detached from 
my brigade of cavalry and mounted rif!emen,900 men 
and officers, and proceeded directly to the Tallushat- 
ches towns, crossed Coosey river at the Fish-Dam 
ford, 3 or 4 miles above this place. I arrived within 
one and a half miles of the town on the morning of the 
3d, at which place 1 divided my detachment into two 
columns, the right composed of the cavalry command- 
ed by Col. Allcorn, to cross over a large creek that lay 
between us and the towns ; the left column was of the 
mounted riflemen under the command of Col. Cannon, 
with whom I marched myself. Col. Allcorn was or^ 
dered to march up o» tke right and encircle one half 



194 



INDIAN WARS. 



on the town, and at the same time the left would form 
a half circle on the left, and unite the head of the 
columns in front of the town, all of which was perform- 
ed as I could wish. When I arrived within half a 
mile of the town, the drums of the enemy be^an to 
beat, mingled with their savage yells, preparing for 
action. It was an hour after sun-rise when the action 
was brought on by Capt. Hammond and Lieut. Pat- 
terson's companies, who had gone on within the circle 
of alignment for the purpose of drawing out the ene- 
my from their buildings, which had the most happy 
effect. As soon as Capt. Hammond exhibited his 
front in view of the town ( which stood in woodland) 
and gave a few scattering shot, the enemy formed and 
made a violent charge on him ; he gave way as they 
advanced, until they met our right column, which 
gave them a general fire and then charged : this 
changed the direction of the charge completely. The 
enemy retreated, firing, until they got around and in 
their buildings, where they made all the resistance 
that an overpowered soldiery possibly could do ; they 
fought as long us one existed, but their destruction 
w T as very soon completed ; our men rushed up to the 
doors of the houses, and in a few minutes killed the 
last warrior of them. The enemy fought with sav- 
age fury, and met death with all its horrors, without 
shrinking or complaining, not one asked to be spared, 
but fought as long as they could stand or sit. In con- 
sequence of their flying to their houses and mixing 
with the families, our men, in killing the males, with- 
out intention killed and wounded a few of the squaws 
and children, which was regretted by every officer 
and soldier of the detachment, but it could not be 
avoided. 

"The number of the enemy killed was 186 that 
were counted, and a number of others that w ere kill- 
ed in the w 7 eeds and not found. I think the calculation 
a reasonable one to say 200 of them were killed, and 
84 prisoners of women and children were taken. Not 



INDIAN WARS. 



195 



one of the warriors escaped to carry the news, a cir- 
cumstance hitherto unknown. 

M I lost five men killed and forty wounded, none 
mortally, the greater part slightly, a number with ar- 
rows; two of the men killed was with arrows; this 
appears to form a very principal part of the enemy's 
arms for warfare; every man having a bow with a 
bundle of arrows, which is used after the first fire with 
the gun, until a leisure time for loading offers. 

" It is with pleasure I say that our men acted with 
deliberation and firmness ; notwithstanding our num- 
bers were far superior to that of the enemy, it was a 
circumstance to us unknown, and from the parade of 
the enemy, we had every reason to suppose them our 
equals in number, but there appeared no visible traces 
of alarm in any ; but on the contrary, all appeared 
cool and determined, and no doubt when they face a 
foe of their own or of a superstior number, they will 
show the same courage as on this occasion." 

BATTLE OF TALLEGADA. 

Gen. Jackson receiving information on the 7th No- 
vember that a party of friend iy Creeks at the fort at 
Tallegada, were threatened with an attack from a 
considerable body of hostile Creeks, marched to their 
relief in the evening. At 4 o'clock in the morning of 
the 9th, he fell in with the enemy within a quarter of 
a mile of the fort, and after a short action succeeded 
in dispersing them with great slaughter. 

The following is an extract from the general's of- 
ficial letter, giving the particulars of the battle. 

"At sun-rise we came within half a mile of them, 
and having formed my men, I moved on in battle 
order. The infantry were in three lines ; the militia 
on the left and the volunteers on the right. The cav- 
alry formed the extreme wings ; and were ordered to 
advance in a curve, keeping their rear connected with 
the advance of their infantry lines, and enclose the en- 



196 



INDIAN WARS. 



emy in a circle. The advanced guard whom I sent 
forward to bring on the engagement, met the attack 
of the enemy with great intrepidity ; and having 
poured upon them four or five very gallant rounds, 
fell back as they had been previously ordered, to the 
main army. The enemy pursued, and the front line 
was now ordered to advance and meet them ; but ow- 
ing to some misunderstanding, a few companies of 
militia, who composed a part of it 5 commenced a re- 
treat. At this moment, a corps of cavalry command- 
ed by Lieut. Dyer, which I had kept as a reserve, 
w T as ordered to dismount and fill up the vacancy oc- 
casioned by the retreat. This order w T as executed 
with a great deal of promptitude and effect. 

''The militia, seeing this, speedily rallied, and the 
fire became general along the first line, and on that 
part of the win~fs will ch was contiguous. The enemy, 
unable to stand it, began to retreat, but were met at 
every turn and pursued in every direction. The right 
wing chased them with a most destructive fire to the 
mountains, a distance of about three miles ; and had I 
not been compelled by the faux pas of the militia in the 
onset of the battle, to dismount my reserve, i believe 
not a man of them would have escaped. The victory, 
however, was very decisive ; 290 of the enemy were 
left dead, and there can be no doubt but many more 
were killed who were not found. Wherever they ran 
they left behind traces of blood ; and 1 believe that 
very few will return to their villages in as sound a con- 
dition as they left them. I w T as compelled to return to 
this place to protect the sick and wounded, and get 
my baggage. In the engagement we lost 15 killed 
and 15 wounded, two of whom have since died. All 
the officers acted with the utmost bravery, and so 
did all the privates, except that part of the militia who 
retreated at the commencement of the battle : and 
they hastened to atone for their error. Taking the 
whole together, they have realized the high expecta- 
tions I had formed of them, and have fairly entitled 
themselves to the gratitude of their country." 



INDIAN WARS. 

41 



197 



BATTLE AT HILLIBEE TOWNS. 

On the 11th November a detachment of the Ten- 
nessee militia, under Gen. White, was sent against 
the Hillibee towns, for the purpose of punishing the 
hostile Creeks in that quarter. Gen. White ? s official 
letter to Major Ges. Cocke, giving a detailed account 
of the expedition, is as follows: 

•'•'Under your order of the 11th November, I im- 
mediately marched with the mounted infantry under 
the immediate command of Major Porter, and a few 
of the Cherokee Indians under the command of Col. 
Morgan, with very short rations only. We continued 
our march to little Oakfuskie, when we fell in with 
and captured five hostile Creek warriors, supposed to 
be spies. Finding no other Indians at that place, we 
burned the town, which consisted of 30 houses. We 
then proceeded to a town called Genalga. and burned 
the same, consisting of 93 houses. Thence we pro- 
ceeded to Nitty Chapota,consisting of about 25 houses 
which I considered it most prudent not to destroy, as 
it might possibly be of use at some future period. 
Thence we marched to the Hillibee town, consisting 
of about 20 houses, adjoining which was Grays ton's 
farm. Previous to our arrival at that place, I was 
advised that a part of the hostile Creeks were assem- 
bled there. Having marched within six or seven 
miles of it on the 17th, I dismounted a part of the 
force under my command, and sent them under tho 
command of Col. Burch, with the Cherokees under 
the command of Col. Morgan in advance, to surround 
the town in the night, and make the attack at day- 
light on the 13th. Owing to the darkness of the 
night, the town was not reached until after daylight; 
but so complete was the surprise, that we succeeded 
in surrounding the town, and killing and capturing al- 
most, if not entirely, the whole of the hostile Creeks 
assembled there, consisting of about 310; of which 
number about 60 warriors were killed on the spot, 
and the remainder made prisoners. Before the close 
26 



198 



INDIAN WARS. 



of the engagement my whole force was up and ready 
for action, had it become necessary 5 but owing to the 
want of knowledge on the part of the Indians, of our 
approach, they were entirely killed and taken before 
they could prepare for any effectual defence. We 
lost not one drop of blood in accomplishing this en- 
terprise. We destoyed this village, and in obedience 
to your orders, commenced our march for this post, 
which we were unable to reach until yesterday. I 
estimate the distance from this to Graysten's farm,at 
about 100 miles. The ground over which we trav- 
elled is so rough and hilly as to render a passage 
very difficult. Many defiles it was impossible to pass 
in safety, without the greatest precaution. For a 
part of the time the weather was so very wet, being 
encumbered with prisoners, and the troops and their 
horses having to subsist in a very great degree upon 
such supplies as we could procure in the nation, ren- 
dered our march more tardy than it otherwise would 
have been. 

" The troops under my command have visited the 
heart of that section of the Creek nation where the 
Red Sticks were first distributed. 

" In justice to this gallant band, I am proud to state, 
that the whole of the officers and men under the 
command of Col. Burch performed their duty cheer- 
fully and without complaint 5 that from the cool, 
orderly and prompt manner in which Major Porter 
and the cavalry under his command, formed and con- 
ducted themselves in every case of alarm, I had the 
highest confidence in them. Col. Morgan and the 
Cherokees under his command, gave undeniable evi- 
dence that they merit the employ of their govern- 
ment. In short, the whole detachment under my 
command conducted in such a manner as to enable 
me to assure you that they are capable of performing 
aay thing to which the same number of men are equal. 

" It gives me pleasure to add, that Mr. M'Corry, 
who acted as my aid in this expedition, rendered ser- 
vices that to me were indispensable, to his country 
very useful, and to himself highly honourable. 55 



CHAPTER XVI. 



CREEK WAR CONTINUED, BATTLE AT ANTOSSE, AT- 
TACK UPON CAMP DEFIANCE, &,C. 



The Georgia militia under Gen. Floyd, on the 
29th November succeeded in defeating a large body 
of hostile Creeks at Antosse. The following is Gen. 
Floyd's official letter to Gen. Pinckney, detailing the 
particulars of the battle. 

" Having received information that numbers of 
the hostile Indians were assembled at Antosse, a 
town on the northern bank of the Tallapoosa, about 
18 miles from the hickory ground, and 20 above the 
junction of that river with the Coosa, I proceeded to 
it with 950 of the Georgia militia, accompanied by be- 
tween 3 and 400 friendly Indians. Having encamped 
within 9 or 10 miles of the point of destination the 
preceding evening, wc resumed the march a few 
minutes before one, on the morning of the 29th, and 
at half past six were formed for action in front of the 
town 

"Booth's battalion composed the right column, 
and marched from its centre. Watson's battalion 
composed the left, and marched from its right ; 
Adams' rifle company, and Merriwether's, under 
Lieut. Hendon, were on the flanks; ('apt. Thomas' 
artillery inarched in front of the right column in 
the road, 

" It was my intention to have completely surround- 
ed the enemy, by applying the right wing of my 
force on Canlabee creek, at the mouth of which I 
w T as informed the town stood, and resting the left on 
the bank below the town 5 but to our surprise, as 



200 



INDIAN WARS. 



day dawned we perceived a second town, about 500 
yards below that which we had first viewed, and 
were preparing to attack. The plan was immediate- 
ly changed ; three companies of infantry on the left 9 
were wheeled to the left, into echellon, and were ad- 
vanced to the low town, accompanied by Merri- 
wether's rifle company, and two troops of light 
dragoons under the command of Captains Irwin and 
Steel. 

"The residue of the force approached the upper 
town, and the battle soon became general. The In- 
dians presented themselves at every point, and fought 
with the desperate bravery of real fanatics. The 
well directed fire, however, of the artillery, added to 
the charge of the bayonet, soon forced them to take 
refuge in the out-houses, thickets and copses in the 
rear of the town ; many, it is believed, concealed 
themselves in caves, previously formed for the pur- 
pose of secure retreat, in the high bluff of the river 
which was thickly covered with reed and brushwood. 
The Indians of the friendly party, who accompanied 
us on the expedition, were divided into four com- 
panies 5 and placed under the command of leaders 
of their own selection. They were, by engagement 
entered into the day previous, to have crossed the 
river above the town, and been posted on the oppo- 
site shore during the action, for the purpose of firing 
upon such of the enemy as might attempt to escape, 
or keep in check any reinforcement which might 
probably be thrown in from the neighbouring towns 5 
but owing to the difficulty of the ford, the coldness 
of the weather, and the lateness of the hour, this ar- 
rangement failed, and their leaders were directed 
to cross Canlebee creek and ocsupy that flank, to 
prevent escapes from the Taliisee town. Some 
time after the action commenced, our red friends 
thronged in disorder in the rear of our lines.. The 
Cowetaws, under M'Intosh, and the Tookabatchians, 
under Mad-Dog's-Son, fell into our flanks, and 
fought with an intrepidity worthy of any troops. 



INDIAN WARS, §01 

At nine o'clock the enemy were completely driven 
from the plain, and the houses ©f both towns wrap- 
ped in flames. As we were then 60 miles from any 
depot of provisions, and our five days rations pretty 
much reduced, in the heart of the enemy's country, 
which in a few months could have poured from its 
numerous towns hosts of its fiercest warriors ; as 
soon as the dead and wounded were disposed of, I 
ordered the place to be abandoned, and the troops to 
commence their march to Ghatahouche. 

66 It is difficult to determine the strength of the en- 
emy, but from the information of some of the chiefs, 
which it is said can be relied on, there were assem- 
bled at Antosse, warriors from eight towns for its de- 
fence, it being their beloved ground, on which they 
proclaimed no white man could approach without in- 
evitable destruction. It is difficult to give a precise 
account of the loss of the enemy 5 but from the num- 
ber which were lying scattered over the field, togeth- 
er with those destroyed in the towns, and the many 
slain on the banks of the river, which respectable 
officers affirm they saw lying in heaps at the water's 
edge, where they had been precipitated by their sur- 
viving friends; their loss in killed, independent of 
their wounded, must have been at least 200, among 
whom are the Antosse and Tallisee kings ; and from 
the circumstances of their making no efforts to molest 
our return, probably greater. The number of build- 
ings burnt, some of a superior order for the dwelling 
of savages, and filled with valuable articles, is sup- 
posed to be 400. 

u Adjutant General Newman rendered important 
services during the action, by his cool and deliberate 
courage. My aid, Maj Crawford, discharged with 
promptitude the duties of a brave and meritorious 
officer. Maj. Pace, who acted as field aid, also dis- 
tinguished himself. Both these gentlemen had their 
horses shot under them, and the latter lost his. Dr. 
Williamson, hospital Surgeon, and Dr. Clopton, were 



202 



INDIAN WARS. 



prompt and attentive in discharge of their duty to- 
wards tho wounded during the action. 

" Maj. Freeman, at the head of Irwin's troop of 
cavalry and part of Steele's, made a furious and suc- 
cessful charge upon a large body of Indians, sabred 
several, and completely defeated them. Capt. 
Thomas and his company, Capt. Adams and Lieut. 
Hendon's rifle companies killed a great many Indians, 
and deserve particular praise. Capt Barton's compa- 
ny were in the hottest of the battle, and fought like 
soldiers. Capts. Myrick, Wells, Little, King, Broad- 
nax, Cleveland, Cunningham and Lee, with their 
companies, distinguished themselves. Brigade Ma- 
jor Sharkleford was of great service in bringing the 
troops into action, and Adjutant Broadnax and Ma- 
jor Montgomery j who acted as assistant adjutants, 
showed great courage. Major Booth used his best 
endeavour in bringing his battalion to action, and Ma- 
jor Watson's battalion acted with considerable spirit. 
Irwin, Patterson and Steele's troop of cavalry, when- 
ever an opportunity presented, charged with success. 
Lieut. Strong had his horse shot and narrowly esca- 
ped, and quarter master Tennal displayed the great- 
est heroism, and miraculously escaped, though badly 
wounded, after having his horse shot from under him. 
The topographical engineer was vigilant in his en- 
deavours to render service. 

u The troops deserve the highest praise for their 
fortitude in enduring hunger, cold and fatigue without 
a murmur, having marched 120 miles in seven days. 

M The friQndly Indians lost several killed and 
wounded, the number not exactly known." 

ATTACK ON CAMP DEFIANCE. 

Gen. Floyd was attacked by a large body of hostile 
Creeks in his encampment, 48 miles west of Cola- 
hoochie, on the £7th January ; but succeeded in re- 
pelling them after a very bloody conflict. The par- 
ticulars are contained in the following letter of the 



INDIAN W A R S . 



£03 



General to Major Gen. Pinckney, dated on the day of 
the engagement. 

This morning, at 20 minutes past 5 o' clock, a very 
large body of hostile Indians made a desperate attack 
upon the army under my command. They stole up- 
on our sentinels, fired on them, and with great 
ferocity rushed upon our line. In twenty minutes 
the action became general, and our front, right and 
left flanks were closely pressed, but the braye and 
gallant conduct of the field and line officers, and the 
firmness of our men, repelled them at every point. 

"The steady firmness and incessant fire of Capt. 
Thomas' artillery, and Capt. Adams' rinemen, pre- 
served our front lines. Both of these companies suffer- 
ed greatlv. The enemy rushed within 30 yards of the 
artillery, and Capt. Broadnax, who commanded one of 
the piquet guards, maintained his post with great bra- 
very, until the enemy gained his rear, and then cut his 
way through them to the army. On this occasion, 
Timpoche "Barnard, a half-breed, at the head of the 
Uchies, distinguished himself, and contributed to the 
retreat of the placet guard: the other friendly In- 
dians took refuge within our lines, and remained inac- 
tive, with the exception of a few who joined our 
ranks. As soon as it became light enough to distin- 
guish objects, I ordered Majors Watson and Free- 
man's battalions to wheel at right angles with Majors 
Booth and C ley eland's battalions, which formed the 
right wing, to prepare for the charge. Capt. Duke 
Hamilton's cavalry, which had reached me but the day 
before, was ordered to form in the rear of the right 
wing, to act as circumstances should dictate. The 
order for the charge was promptly obeyed, and the 
enemy fled in every direction before the bayonet. 
The signal was given for the charge of the cavalry, 
who pursued and sabred 15 of the enemy, and left 37 
dead on the field. From the effusion of blood, and 
the number of head dresses and war clubs found in 
various directions, their loss must have been consid- 
erable, independent of their wounded. 



204 



INDIAN WARS. 



" I directed the friendly Indians, with Merriwether 
and Ford's rifle companies, accompanied by Cap- 
tain Hamilton's troop, to pursue them through Can- 
lebee swamp where they were trailed by their blood, 
but they succeeded in overtaking but on© of the 
wounded. 

" Col. Newman received three balls in the com- 
mencement of the action, which deprived me of the ser- 
vices of that gallant and useful officer. The Assistant 
Adjutant General Hardin was indefatigable in the 
discharge of his duty, and rendered important ser- 
vices ; his horse was wounded under him. The whole 
of the Staff were prompt, and discharged their duty 
with courage and fidelity. Their vigilance, and the 
intrepidity and firmness of the men, meet my appro- 
bation, and deserve the praise of their country. 

" My aid-de-camp, in executing my orders, had 
his horse killed under him. Gen. Lee and Maj. Pace, 
who acted as additional aids, rendered me essential 
services, with honour to themselves, and usefulness 
to the cause in which they have embarked. Four 
waggon horses, and several others were killed, and 
two of the artillery horses wounded. While I de- 
plore the loss sustained on this occasion, I have the 
consolation to know, that the men whom I have the 
honour to command have done their duty. 55 

EXPEDITION TO THE BEjSD OF THE TALLAPOOSA. 

On the 14th January, Gen. Jackson having been 
reinforced by about 800 volunteers, commenced his 
march in quest of the enemy upon the Tallapoosa 
river. The objects and particulars of the expedition 
are disclosed in the following letter from Gen. Jack- 
son to Maj. Gen Pinckney: 

(c Head-Quarters, Fort Strother, Jan. 29. 

66 Sir — I had the honour of informing you in a let- 
ter of the 31st ult. forwarded by Mr. M 5 Candles 
(express) of an excursion I contemplated making still 



INDIAN WARS. 



£05 



further into the enemy's country, with the new rais- 
ed volunteers from Tennessee. I had ordered those 
troops to form a junction with me on the 10th instant ; 
but they did not arrive until the 14th. Their number, 
including officers, was about 800; and on the 15th, I 
marched them across the river, to graze their horses. 
On the next day, I followed with the remainder of my 
force, consisting of the artillery company, with one 6 
pounder; one company of infantry, of 48 men ; two 
companies of spies, commanded by Captains Gordon 
and Russell, of about 30 men each ; and a company of 
volunteer officers, headed by Gen. Coffee, who had 
been abandoned by his men, and who still remained 
in the field, awaiting the order of the government 5 
making my force, exclusive of Indians, 930. 

" The motives which influenced me to penetrate 
still farther into the enemy's country, with this force, 
were many, arid urgent. The term of service of the 
new raised volunteers, was short, and a considerable 
part of it was expired ; they were expensive to the 
government, and were full of ardour to meet the ene- 
my. The ill effects of keeping soldiers of this de- 
scription long stationary and idle, I had been made 
to feel but too sensibly already. Other causes con- 
curred to make such a movement not only justifiable, 
but absolutely necessary. I had received a letter 
from Capt. M'Alpin, of the5thinst. who commanded 
at fort Armstrong, in the absence of Col. Snodgrass, 
informing me that 14 or 15 towns of the enemy, situ- 
ated on the Tallapoosa, were about uniting their forces 
and attacking that place, which had been left in a 
very feeble state of defence. You had in your letter 
of the 24th ult., informed me that Gen. Floyd was 
about to make a movement to the Tallapoosa, near its 
junction with the Coose ; and in the same letter had 
recommended temporary excursions against such of 
the enemy's towns or settlements, as might be within 
striking distance, as well to prevent my men from be- 



S08 



INDIAN WARS. 



coming discontented, as to harrass the enemy. Your 
ideas corresponded exactly with my own, and I was 
happy in the opportunity of keeping my men engaged, 
distressing the enemy, and at the same time making a 
diversion to facilitate the operations of Gen. Floyd. 

" Determined by these, and other considerations, 
I took up the line of march on the 17th inst. and on 
the night of the 18th encamped at Tallegada fort, 
where I was joined by between two and three hun- 
dred friendly Indians ; sixty five of whom, w ere 
Cherokees, the balance Creeks. Here [ received 
your letter of the 9th inst. stating that Gen. Floyd 
was expected to make a movement from Cowetau the 
next day, and that in 18 days thereafter he would es- 
tablish a firm position at Tuckabotchee ; and also a 
letter from Col. Snodgrass, who had returned to fort 
Armstrong, informing me that an attack was intend- 
ed soon to be made by 900 of the enemy. If I could 
have hesitated before, I could now hesitate no long- 
er. I resolved to lose no time in meeting this force, 
which was understood to have been collected from 
New Yorcau, Oakfuskee and Ufauley towns, and 
were concentrated in the bend of the Tailapoosa, 
near the mouth of the creek called Emuckfau, on an 
island below New Yorcau. 

" On the morning of the 29th, your letter of the 10th 
instant, forwarded by Mr. M 5 Candles, reached me at 
the Hillibee village, situated about 12 miles from 
Emuckfau. Here I began to perceive very plainly 
how little knowledge my spies had of the country, of 
the situation of the enemy, or of the distance I w as 
from them. The insubordination of the new troops, 
and the want of skill in most of their officers, also be- 
come more and more apparent. But their ardour to 
meet the enemy was not diminished ; and I had a 
sure reliance upon the guards, a company of old vol- 
unteer officers, and upon the spies, in all 125. My 
wishes and duty remained united, and I w as deter- 



INDIAN WARS. 



mined to effect, if possible, the objects for which the 
excursion had been principally undertaken. 

" On the morning of the 21st, 1 marched from Eno- 
tachopee, as direct as I could for the bend of the Tal- 
lapoosa, and about 2 o'clock, P. M. my spies having 
discovered two of the enemy, endeavoured to catch 
them, but failed. In the evening, I fell in upon a 
large trail, which led to a new road, much beaten and 
lately travelled. Knowing that I must have arrived 
within the neighbourhood of a strong force, and it be- 
ing late in the day, I determined to encamp, and re- 
connoitre the country in the night. I chose the best 
site the country would admit, encamped in a hollow 
square, sent out my spies and pickets, doubled my 
sentinels, and made the necessary arrangements before 
dark, for a night attack. About 10 o'clock at night, 
one of the pickets fired at three of the enemy, and 
killed one, but he was not found until the next day. 
At 1 i o'clock, the spies whom I had sent out returned 
with the information, that there was a large encamp- 
ment of Indians at the distance of about three miles, 
who, from their whooping and dancing, seemed to be 
apprised of our approach. One of these spies, an In- 
dian in whom I had great confidence, assured me that 
they were carrying off their women and children, and 
that the warriors would either make their escape, or 
attack me before day, Being prepared at all points, 
nothing remained to be done but await their approach, 
if they meditated an attack, or to be in readiness, if 
they did not, to pursue and attack them at day-light. 
While we were in this state of readiness, the enemy, 
about 6 o'clock in the morning, commenced a vigorous 
attack on my left flank, which was vigorously met. 
The action continued to rage on my left flank, and on 
the left of my rear for about half an hour. The brave 
Gen. Coffee, with Col. Sittler, the Adjutant General, 
and Col. Carroll, the Inspector General, at the moment 
the firing commenced, mounted their horses, and re- 
paired to the line, encouraging and animating the men 
to the performance of their duty. As soon as it be- 



SOS 



INDIAN WARS. 



come light enough to pursue, the left wing having sus- 
tained the heat of the action, and being somewhat 
weakened, was reinforced by Capt. FerrilPs company 
of infantry, and was ordered and led on the charge by 
Gen. Coffee, who was well supported by Col. Higgins 
and the Inspector General, and by all the officers and 
privates who composed that line. The enemy was 
completely routed at every point, and the friendly In- 
dians joining in the pursuit, they were chased about 
two miles with great slaughter. 

The chase being over, I immediately detached 
Gen. Coffee with 400 men and all the Indian force, to 
burn their encampment ; but it was said by some to be 
fortified. I ordered him, in that event, not to attack 
it, until the artillery could be sent forward to reduce 
it. On viewing the encampment and its strength, the 
General thought it most prudent to return to my en- 
campment, and guard the artillery thither. The wis- 
dom of this step was soon discovered. In half an 
hour after his return to camp, a considerable force of 
the enemy made its appearance on my right flank, and 
commenced a brisk fire on a party of men who had 
been on a picket guard the night before, and were then 
in search of the Indians they had fired upon, some of 
whom they believed had been killed. Gen. Coffee im- 
mediately requested me to let him take £00 men and 
turn their left flank, w hich I accordingly ordered 5 but 
through some mistake, which I did not then observe, 
not more than 54 followed him, among whom were the 
old volunteer officers. With these, how ever, he im- 
mediately commenced an attack on the left flank of 
the enemy ; at which time I ordered 200 of the friend- 
ly Indians to fall in upon the right flank of the ene- 
my, and co-operate with the General. This order 
was promptly obeyed, and in the moment of its exe- 
cution what I expected was realized. The enemy 
had intended to attack on the right, as a feint, and ex- 
pecting me to direct all my attention thither, meant 
to attack me again with their main force on the left 
flank, w hich they hoped to find weakened and in dis- 



INDIAN WARS,. 209 

order; but they were disappointed. I had ordered 
the left flank to remain firm to its place, and the mo- 
ment the alarm gun was heard in that quarter, I re- 
paired thither, and ordered Capt. Fcrrill, with part of 
my reserve, to support it. The whole line met the 
approach of the enemy with astonishing intrepidity, 
and having given a few fires, they forthwith charged 
with great vigour. The effect was immediate and in- 
evitable. The enemy fled with precipitation, and 
were pursued to a considerable distance by the left 
flank and the friendly Indians, with a galling and de- 
structive fire. Col. Carroll, who ordered the charge, 
led on the pursuit, and Col. Higgins and his regiment 
again distinguished themselves. 

"In the mean time, Gen. Coffee was contending 
with a superior force of the enemy. The Indians 
whom I had ordered to his support, and who had set 
out f or the purpose, hearing the firing on the left, had 
returned to that quarter, and when the enemy were 
routed there, entered into the chase. That being now 
over, I forthwith ordered Jim Fife, who was one of 
the principal commanders of the friendly Creeks, with 
100 of his warriors, to execute my first order. As 
soon as he reached Gen. Coffee, the charge was made 
and the enemy routed. They were pursued about 
three miles, and 45 of them slain, who were found. 
Gen. Coffee was wounded in the body, and his Aid- 
de-camp, A. Donaldson, killed, together with three 
others. Having brought in and buried the dead, and 
dressed the wounded, I ordered my camp to be forti- 
fied, to be the better prepared to repel any attack 
which might be made in the night; determining to 
commence a return march to fort Strotherthe follow- 
ing day. Many causes concurred to make such a 
measure necessary ; as I had not set out prepared, or 
with a view r to make a permanent establishment, I 
considered it worse than useless to advance and de- 
stroy an empty encampment. 

"I had indeed hoped to have met the enemy there, 
but having met and beat them a little sooner, I did 



210 



INDIAN WARS. 



not think it necessary or prudent to proceed any fur- 
ther ; not necessary, because I had accomplished all I 
could expect to effect by marching to their encamp- 
ment i and because if it was necessary to contend with 
and weaken their forces still farther, this object would 
inspire them to pursue me; not prudent, because of the 
number of my wounded ; of the reinforcement from 
below, which the enemy might be expected to receive; 
of the starving condition of my horses, they having 
had neither corn nor cane for two days and nights!; of 
the scarcity of supplies for my men, the Indians who 
had joined me at Tallegada having drawn none, and 
being wholly destitute ; and because, if the enemy 
pursued me as it was likely they would, the diversion 
in favour of General Floyd would be the more com- 
plete and effectual. Influenced by these considera- 
tions, I commenced my return march at half past ten 
on the twenty-third, and was fortunate enough to 
reach Enotachopco before night, having pas&ed with- 
out interruption a dangerous defile, occasioned by a 
hurricane. I again fortified my camp, and having 
another defile to pass in the morning, across a deep 
creek, and between tw 7 o hills, which I had viewed w ith 
attention as I passed on, and where I expected I might 
be attacked, I determined to pass it at another point, 
and gave directions to my guide and fatigue men ac- 
cordingly. My expectation of an attack in the morn- 
ing was increased by the signs of the night, and with 
it my caution. Before I removed the wounded from 
the interior of my camp, I had my front and rear 
guards formed, as well as my right and left columns, 
and moved off my centre in regular order, leading 
down a handsome ridge to Enotachopco creek, at a 
point where it was clear of reed, except immediately 
on its margin. I had previously issued a general or- 
der, pointing out the manner in which the men should 
be formed in the event of an attack on the front or 
rear, or on the flanks, and had particularly cautioned 
the officers to halt and form accordingly, the instant 
the word should be given. 



INDIAN WARS. 



211 



" The front guard had passed with part of the flank 
columns, the wounded were over, and the artillery in 
the act of entering the creek, when an alarm gun was 
heard in the rear. I heard it wilhout surprise, and 
even with pleasure, calculating with the utmost con- 
fidence on the firmness of my troops, from the manner 
in which I had seen them act on the twenty-second. 
I had placed Colonel Carroll at the head of the centre 
column of the rear guard; its right column was com- 
manded hy Col. Stump. Having chosen the ground, 
I expected there to have entirely cut off the enemy, 
by wheeling the right and left columns on their piv- 
ots, re-crossing the creek above and below,and falling 
in upon their Hanks and rear. But to my astonish- 
ment and mortification, when the word was given by 
Colonel Carroll to halt and form, and a few guns had 
been fired, I beheld the right and left columns of the 
rear guard precipitately give way. This shameful 
retreat was disastrous in the extreme; it drew along 
with it the greater part of the centre column, leaving 
not more than 25 men, who being formed by Colonel 
Carroll, maintained their ground as long as it was 
possible to maintain it, and it brought consternation 
and confusion into the centre of the army, a conster- 
nation which was not easily removed, and a confusion 
which could not soon be restored to order. There was 
then left to repulse the enemy, the few who remained 
of the rear guard, the artillery company, and Captain 
Russell's company of spies. They, however, realized 
and exceeded my highest expectations. Lieut. Arm- 
strong, who commanded the artillery company in the 
absence of Capt. Deadrick, ( confined by sickness) or- 
dered them to form and advance to the top of the bill, 
while he and a few others dragged up the 6 pounder. 
Never was more bravery displayed than on this oc- 
casion. Amid the most galling fire from the enemy, 
more than ten times their number, they ascended the 
hill and maintained their position until their piece was 
hauled up, when, having levelled it, they poured upon 



212 



INDIAN WARS. 



the enemy a fire of grape; reloaded and fired again, 
charged and repulsed them. 

" The most deliberate bravery was displayed by 
Constantine Perkins and Craven Jackson, of the ar- 
tillery, acting as gunners. In the hurry of the mo- 
ment, in separating the gun from the limbers, the 
rammer and the picker of the cannon were left tied to 
the limber. No sooner was this discovered, than Jack- 
son, amidst the fire of the enemy, pulled out the ram- 
rod of his musket and used it as a picker, primed with 
a cartridge and fired the cannon. Perkins, having 
pulled off his bayonet, used his musket as a rammer, 
drove down the cartridge ; and Jackson, using his for- 
mer plan, again discharged her. The brave Lieuten- 
ant Armstrong, just after the first fire of the cannon, 
with Capt. Hamilton, of East Tennessee, Bradford 
and M'Govock, all fell, the lieutenant exclaiming as 
he lay, 4 my brave fellows, some of you may fall, but 
you must save the cannon. 5 About this time, a num- 
ber crossed the creek and entered into the chase. The 
brave Capt. Gordon, of the spies, who had rushed 
from the front, endeavoured to turn the left flank of 
the enemy, in which he partially succeeded, and Col. 
Carroll, Col. Higgins, and Captains Elliot and Pip- 
kins, pursued the enemy for more than two miles, who 
fled in consternation, throwing away their packs, and 
leaving 26 of their warriors dead on the field. This 
last defeat was decisive, and we were no more dis- 
turbed by their yells. I should do injustice to my 
feelings, if I omitted to mention the venerable Judge 
Cocke, at the age of 65, entered into the engagement, 
continued the pursuit of the enemy with youthful ar- 
dour, and saved the life of a fellow soldier, by killing 
his savage antagonist. 

Our loss in this affair, was 18 killed and wound- 
ed ; among the former, was the brave Capt. Hamilton, 
from East Tennessee, who had, with his aged father, 
and two others of his company, after the period of his 
engagement had expired, volunteered his services for 



WARS. 



213 



for this excursion, and attached himself to the artille- 
ry company. No man ever fought more bravelv, or 
died more gloriously ; and by his side fell with equal 
bravery and glory, Bird Evans, of the same company. 
Capt. Quarles, who commanded the centre column of 
the rear guard, preferring death to the abandonment 
of his post, having taken a firm stand, in which he 
was followed by 25 of his men, received a wound in 
his head, of which he has since died. 

" In these several engagements, our loss v/as 20 
killed and 75 wounded, 4 of whom have since died. 
The loss of the enemy cannot be accurately ascertain- 
ed: 180 of their warriors were found dead; but this 
must fall considerably short of the number really kill- 
ed. Their wounded can only be guessed at. 

" Had it not been for the unfortunate retreat of the 
rear guard, in the affair of the £4th inst. I think I 
could safely have said, that no army of militia ever 
acted with more cool and deliberate bravery ; undis- 
ciplined and unexperienced as they were, their con- 
duct in the several engagements of the 22d, could not 
have been surpassed by regulars. No men ever met 
the approach of an enemy with more intrepidity, or 
repulsed them with more energy. On the 24th, after 
the retreat of the rear guard, they seemed to have lost 
all their collectedness, and were more difficult to be 
restored to order than any troops I have ever seen. 
But this was no doubt in a great measure, or alto- 
gether owing to that very retreat, and ought rather 
to be ascribed to the want of conduct in many of their 
officers, than to any cowardice in the men, who, on 
every occasion, have manifested a willingness to per- 
form their duty as far as they knew it. 

"All the effects which were designed to be produ- 
ced by this excursion, it is believed have been accom- 
plished. If an attack was meditated against fort 
Armstrong, that has been prevented. If Gen. Flovd 
is operating on the east side of the Tallapoosa, as I 
suppose him to be, a most fortunate diversion has been 
made in his favour. The number of the enemy has 
28 



I M D I A N WARS. 



been diminished and the confidence they may have 

derived from the delays I have been made to experi- 
ence, has been desti oyed. Discontent has been kept 
out of my army, while the troops who would have 
been exposed to it, have been beneficially employed. 
The enemy's country has been explored, and a road 
cut to the point where their force will probably be 
concentrated, when they shall be driven from the 
country below. But in a report of this kind, and to 
you who will immediately perceive them, it is not ne- 
cessary to state the happy consequences which may 
be expected to result from this excursion. Unless I 
am greatly mistaken, it will be found to have hasten- 
ed the termination of the Creek war, more than any 
measure I could have taken with the troops under my 
eo 21121 and." 



CHAPTER XVJL 



fONCL^MON OT THE CREEK WAR, BRILLIANT VIC- 
TORY AT THE BEND OF THE TALLAPOOSA, && 

General Jackson, determined on the extermina- 
tion of the Creeks for their attrocious conduct, on the 
10th of March, 1814, penetrated as far as the bend of 
the Tallapoosa, where a most decisive victory was ob- 
tained, and the destruction of the nation nearly ac-< 
complished. The following is Gen. Jackson's ofBcial 
account of the brilliant achievement, in a letter to 
his Excellency Governor Blount: 

"Fort Williams, March 3!, 1314. 

"Sir — I have just returned from the expedition 
which I advised you in my last I was about to make 
to the Tallapoosa ; and hasten to acquaint you with 
the good fortune which attended it. 

u I took up the line of march from this place on 
the morning of the 21st inst. and having opened a 
passage of S2\ miles over the ridges which divide the 
waters of the two rivers, I reached the bend of the 
Tallapoosa, three miles beyond where I had the en- 
gagement of the 22d of January, and at the southern 
extremity of New Tonka, on the morning of the 27th. 
This bend resembles in a curvature that of a horse- 
shoe, and is thence called by that name among the 
whites. Nature furnishes few situations so eligible 
for defence, and barbarians have never rendered one 
more secure by art. Across the neck of the bend 
which leads into it from the north, they had erected a 
breast- work of the greatest compactness and strength| 
eight feet high, and prepared with double port-holes, 
very artfully arranged. The figure of this wall mani- 
fested no less skill in the projection of it, v ithout be- 
ing exposed to a double and cross fire from the enemtj 
who lay in perfect security behind it. The area of 



216 



IB? DI AN WARS. 



this peninsula, thus bounded by the breast-work, in- 
cludes, I conjecture, eighty or an hundred acres. 

u In this bend, the warriors from Ockfuska, Goake- 
hagu, New Youca, Hiliabea, the Fish Ponds, and 
Eufatua towns, apprised of our approach, had collect- 
ed their strength. The exact number cannot be as- 
certained; but it is said by the prisoners we have 
taken, to have been a thousand. It is certain they 
were very numerous, and that relying with the utmost 
confidence upon their strength, their situation, and the 
assurances of their prophets, they calculated en re- 
pulsing us with great ease. 

" Early on the morning of the 27th, having encamp- 
ed the preceding night at the distance of five miles 
from them, I detailed Gen. Coffee with the mounted 
men and nearly the whole of the Indian force, to cross 
the river at a ford about three miles below their en- 
campment, and to surround the bend in such a man- 
ner that none of them should escape by attempting to 
cross the river. With the remainder of the forces I 
proceeded along the point of land which leads to the 
front of their breast work ; and at half past 10 o'clock 
A. "M. I had planted my artillery on a small emi- 
nence, distant from its nearest point about 83 yards, 
and from its farthest about 250; from whence I imme- 
diately opened a brisk fire upon its centre. With the 
musketry and rifles I kept up a galling fire wherever 
the enemy showed themselves behind their works, or 
ventured to approach them. This was continued with 
occasional intermissions for about two hours, when 
Capt. Russell's company of spies, and a party of the 
Cherokee force, headed by their ga llant chieftain, Col. 
Richard Brown, and conducted by the brave Colonel 
Morgan, crossed over to the peninsula in canoes, and 
set fire to a few of their buildings there situated. 
They then advanced with great gallantry towards the 
breast-work, and commenced firing upon the enemy 
who lay behind it. 

"Finding that this force, notwithstanding the de- 
termination that they displayed was wholly insufficient 



1KDIAN WAftft. 



to dislodge the enemy, and that Gen. Coffee had so- 
cured the opposite banks of the river, I now deter- 
mined on taking possession of their works by storm. 
Never were men better disposed for such an under- 
taking than those by whom it was to be effected. 
They had entreated to be led to the charge with the 
most pressing importunity, and received the order 
which was now given, with the strongest demonstra- 
tions of joy. The effect was such as this temper of 
mind foretold. The regular troops, led on by their 
intrepid and skilful commanders. Col. Williams and 
Major Montgomery, were presently in possession of 
the nearer side of the breast- work ; and the militia 
accompanied them in the charge with a vivacity and 
firmness w hich could not have been exceeded, and has 
seldom beei* equalled by troops of any description. A 
few companies of Gen. Dougherty 5 s brigade on the 
right, were led on with gallantry by that distinguished 
officer, Col. Russell ; the advance guard by the Adju- 
tant General, Col. Siller ? andtho left extremity of the 
line by Capt. Gordon, of the Spies, and Capt. JYP- 
Murray, of Gen. Johnson's brigade, of West Tennes- 
see militia. 

" Having maintained for a few minutes a very ob- 
stinate contest, musket to musket, through the port 
holes, in which many of the balls were welded to the 
bayonets of muskets, our troops succeeded in gaining 
possession of the opposite side of the works. The 
event could no longer be doubtful. The enemy, al- 
though many of them fought to the last, with that 
kind of bravery which desperation inspires, were at 
length entirely routed and cut to pieces. The whole 
margin of the river which surrounds the peninsula was 
strewed with the slain. Five hundred and fifty-seven 
we?e found by officers of great respectability, whom I 
r ad ordered to count them ; besides a great number 
who were thrown into the river, or killed in attempt- 
ing to pass it, by Gen. Coffee's men, stationed on the 
opposite banks. Captain Hammonds, who with his 



218 



IKDIAN WARS. 



company of spies occupied a favourable position oppo- 
site the upper extremity of the breast-work, did great 
execution ; and so did Lieut. Bean, who had been or- 
dered by Gen. Coffee to take possession of a small 
island pointing to the lower extremity. 

" Both officers and men, who had the best opportu- 
nities of judging, believe the loss of the enemy in kill- 
ed, not far short of 800 5 and if their number was 
great as it is represented to have been by the prison- 
ers, and as it is believed to have been by Col. Carroll 
and others, who had a fair view of them as they ad- 
vanced to the b/reast-works, their loss must even have 
been more considerable ; as it is quite certain that not 
more than twenty can have escaped. Among the 
dead was found their famous prophet Monahell, shot 
in the mouth by a grape shot 5 as if Heaven designed 
to chastise his impostures by an appropriate punish- 
ment. Two other prophets were also killed ; leaving 
no others, as I can learn, on the Tallapoosa. I la- 
ment that two or three women and children were kill- 
ed by accident. I do not know the exact number of 
prisoners taken, but it must exceed 300; all women 
and children except three. 

" The battle may be said to have continued with 
severity for about five hours ; but the firing and 
slaughter continued until it was suspended by the 
darkness of the night. The next morning it was re- 
sumed, and 16 of the enemy slain, who had conceal- 
ed themselves under the banks. Our loss was 26 
white men killed, and 107 wounded ; Cherokees, 18 
killed and 36 wounded ; friendly Creeks, 5 killed and 
11 wounded. 

" The loss of Col Williams' regiment of regulars 
is 17 killed and 55 wounded; three of whom have 
since died. Among the former were Major Montgo- 
mery, Lieut. Sommerville and Lieut. Moulton, who 
fell in the charge which was made on the works. 
No men ever acted more gallantly, or fell more glori- 
ously. 



\ 



INDIAN WARS. % i 9 

u In a few days I shall take up the line of march 
.for the Hickory ground, and have every thing to hope 
from such troops. 
" Enclosed 1 send you Gen. Coffee's original report. 
66 I have the honour to be, with great respect, your 
obedient humble servant, 

AxNDHEW JACKSON, Maj. Gen." 

Report from Gen. Coffee to Gen. Jackson, dated 

April 1. 

" Sir — Agreeably to your order of the 27th ult. I 
took up the line of march at half past 8 o'clock, A. M. 
of the same day, with a detachment of 700 cavalry 
and mounted gunmen, and aoout 600 Indians, 500 
of which were Cherokees, and the balance friendly 
Creeks. I crossed the Tallapoosa river at the little 
island ford, about three miles below the bend, in 
which the enemy had concentrated ; and then turned 
up the river, bearing away from its cliffs. When with- 
in half a mile of the village, the savage yell was rais- 
ed by the enemy, and I supposed they had discover- 
ed and were about to attack me. I immediately drew 
up my forces in line of battle in an open, hilly wood- 
land, and in that position moved on towards the yell- 
ing of the enemy. Previous to this, I had ordered 
the Indians, on our approach to the bend of the river, 
to advance secretly and take possession of the bank of 
the river, and prevent the enemy from crossing on the 
approach of our army in their front. When within a 
quarter of a mile of the river, the firing of our cannon 
commenced, when the Indians with me immediately 
rushed forward with great impetuosity to the river 
bank. My line was halted and pot in order of battle, 
expecting an attack on our rear from Oakfuskee vil- 
lage, which lay down the river, about eight miles be- 
low us. The firing of our cannon and small arms in a 
short time became general and heavy, which animated 
our Indians, and seeing about 100 of the warriors and 
all the. squaws and children of the enemy running 
about among the huts of the village, which was open 



I 



«20 



ISTDIAJf WARS. 



to our view, they could no longer remain silent spec- 
tators, while some kept up a fire across the river,, 
(which is about 120 yards wide) to prevent the ene- 
my's approach to the bank. Others plunged into the 
water and swam the river for canoes that lay at the 
other shore in considerable numbers, and brought 
them over ; in which crafts a number of them embark- 
ed, and landed on the bend with the enemy. Col. 
Gideon Morgan, who commanded the Cherokees ; 
Capt. Keer and Capt. William Russell, with apart of 
his company of spies, were among the first that cross- 
ed the river. From the huts up the river bank, to the 
fortified works from which they were fighting, they 
pursued and continued to annoy, during the whole 
action. This movement of our Indian forces left the 
river bank unguarded, and made it necessary that I 
should send a party of my line to take possession of 
the river bank. I accordingly ordered about one third 
of the men to be posted around the bend of the river 
bank, while the balance remained in line, to protect 
our rear. I ordered Lieut. Bean to take possession 
of the island below, with 40 men, to prevent the ene- 
my's taking refuge there, which was executed with 
promptitude, and which had a very happy effect. 
From the report of my officers, as well as from my 
own observation, I feel warranted in saying that from 
250 to 300 of the enemy were buried under water, 
and were numbered with the dead that were found.'" 



TERMINATION OF HOSTILITIES WITH THE CREEKS. 

The brilliant and decisive victories obtained by 
Gen. Jackson and his brave men, over the Creeks, in- 
duced many of those who survived, to surrender and 
sue for peace. A few of them, however, otherwise 
disposed, fled toward Pensacola, before the arrival of 
the General at Tallapoosa. Of these few, notice will 
be taken in the succeeding chapter. Many of the 
runaway negroes, who were captured at Fort Minis, 



INDIAN WARS. 



221 



were restored to their masters, and an unfortunate 
white female captiv^?, Polly Jones, who, with her two 
children, had been taken prisoners by the Indians, 
were released and restored to their friends. The 
Tallapoosa and Tostahatchee kings were taken pris- 
oners, as was Peter M*Q,uin,a distinguished chief,but 
he unfortunately afterwards made his escape. Hillin- 
hagee, their great prophet, fled with the fugitives to- 
wards Pensacoia. Weatherford, their speaker, and 
who through the war had been one of the most ac- 
tive and enterprising chiefs, conceiving it in vain any 
longer to resist, and being informed that Gen. Jackson 
intended, if he could take him, to put him to death, 
he was advised by his friends, as his warriors were al- 
most all slain, as his country was ruined, and his 
escape almost impracticable, to surrender himself 
to the General; that it was useless to attempt further 
resistance ; and this was the only means by which 
his life could be saved. Weatherford determined 
so to do, and presented himself to Gen. Jackson 
at his quarters, by whom it was demanded of him who 
he was, and how he came there. He replied, "my 
name is Weatherford, one of the Chiefs of the Red 
Sticks. I have fought you till my warriors are all 
slain. If I had warriors I would fight you still ; but 
I have none. My country is overrun, and my soldiers 
are fallen. Here am I in your power ; do with me as 
you please ; only recollect that I am a soldier ! " The 
patriotic speech of this distinguished chief had its de- 
sired effect. Gen. Jackson declined to consider him 
even as a prisoner of war. Weatherford, although as 
bold and intrepid as a lion, had been many times de- 
feated by his enemies. In 1813 a formidable body of 
volunteers from the Mississippi Territory, who had 
been raised for the express purpose of protecting the 
defenceless inhabitants on the frontiers, marched un- 
der the command of Gen. Claiborne, against some of 
the towns inhabited by the hostile Creeks on the Ala- 
bama river. A detachment of the troops under com- 
mand of Col. Carson, on approaching a town called 
29 



222 



INDIAN WARS. 



Eecanachaca, was suddenly and vigorously attacked 
by the enemy. Weather ford commanded the Indians 
and fought with his usual bravery. He was, however, 
routed, and completely defeated by the detachment, 
before the remainder of the troops had time to arrive. 
The enemy threw away their arms and fled in every 
direction. Thirty were killed and double that num- 
ber probably wounded. Col. Carson lost but one 
killed, and five wounded. A pursuit was ordered, but 
with very little success. A large quantity of provis- 
ions and other valuable property was found in their 
town, which the Indians in their precipitate flight were 
obliged to leave behind, and which with their houses, 
(200 in number) were destroyed. After the com- 
mencement of hostilities, the town was rebuilt, and 
was established as a place of security for the Creeks 
of several of the adjacent villages. It was Weather- 
ford's place of residence. In this house was found a 
letter from the Governor of Pensacola to the Creeks, 
expressing the "friendship which the Spaniards enter- 
tained for them, and the hostility of the former to- 
wards the Americans. 

Gen. Jackson, after having made known to the sur- 
viving Creeks, the terms upon which he was author- 
ized to make peace, in the latter part of April with- 
drew his forces from the Creek country. The terms 
offered them were ; That the United States were to 
retain as much of the conquered territory as would 
indemnify them for the expenses of the war, and as a 
retribution for the injuries sustained by its citizens,and 
such of the Creeks as had remained on friendly terms 
with them during the war. The United States were 
to establish whatever military posts and trading 
houses they should think proper, and to have the free 
navigation of the rivers and water courses throughout 
the Creek country. The Creeks were to surrender 
their prophet s 4 and other chiefs who remained or 
who should thereafter prove hostile to the interest 
and welfare of the States. The Tallisee king, of 
whom we have made frequent mention .,and who was 



INDIAN WARS. 



223 



supposed to have been killed in one of Gen. Floyd's 
engagements with the Creeks, surrendered himself a 
prisoner to the Americans. He was upwards of a 
hundred years of age, with a head as white as snow, 
and had been regarded by the enemy as a very great 
prophet. The friendly Creeks viewed him as their 
most inveterate enemy, and although nearly bent 
double with age, they were anxious to put him to 
death, and would have done so had it nc been for the 
interposition of the American officers. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



SEMINOLE WAR, PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS, &C. 

The Creek war happily terminating in the spring of 
18 14, and a treaty of peace having been mutually con- 
cluded upon between the surviving chiefs of that na- 
tion and Commissioners appointed on the part of the 
United States, but little opposition was then appre- 
hended from the fugitives who had fled towards Fen- 
sac o la, and who remained hostile to the interest of the 
Americans. But, contrary to the expectations of our 
government, it was soon after discovered that these 
Indians had sought refuge among the different savage 
tribes living within and on the borders of the Floridas, 
denominated Seminole Indians, who it was suspected 
cherished feelings of hostility to the United States. 
This fact having been ascertained, the executive de- 
partment of the government deemed it necessary, for 
the security of the frontier, to establish a line of forts 
near the southern boundary of the United States, and 
to occupy those fortifications with portions of the reg- 
ular forces, and by this means peace was maintained 
with the Indians until the spring or summer of 1817, 
when the regular forces were withdrawn from the 
posts on the Georgia fronti er, and concentrated at fort 
Montgomery, on the Alabama river, a considerable 
distance west of the Georgia line. But it seems that 
about this time a border warfare was commenced be- 
tween the Seminole Indians and the frontier inhabi- 
tants of Georgia. Many horrid barbarities are said 
to have been perpetrated by the former; some of which 
it may not be improper here to mention. The house 
of a Mr. Garrett, residing near the boundary of Wayne 
county, was attacked by a party of Indians during his 
absence. They shot Mrs. Garrett in two places > and 
then despatched her by stabbing and scalping. Her 



I M £) I A N WARS. 



225 



two children, one about three years and the other two 
months old were also murdered, and the eldest scalp- 
ed. The house was then plundered of every article 
of value, and set on fire ! A boat soon after ascending 
the Alabama river, containing thirty men, seven wo- 
men and four small children, was captured by the In- 
dians. Six of the men escaped, one woman taken 
captive and the remainder inhumanly butchered. The 
children were taken by the leg and their brains dash- 
ed out against the boat ! ! 

Duncan M'Krimmon (a resident of Milledgeville, a 
Georgia militia man, stationed at fort Gadsden) being 
out one morning on a fishing excursion, in attempting 
to return, missed his way, and was several days lost 
in the surrounding wilderness. After wandering about 
in various directions he was espied and captured by a 
party of hostile Indians, headed by the well known 
prophet Francis. The Indians having obtained the 
satisfaction they wanted respecting the determination 
of government, the position of the American army, 
&/C. they began to prepare for the intended sacrifice. 
M'Krimmon was bound to a stake, and the ruthless 
savages having shaved his head and reduced his body 
to a state of nudity, formed themselves into a circle 
and danced round him some hours, yelling most hor- 
ribly. The youngest daughter of the prophet, about 
fifteen years of age, remained sad and silent the whole 
time. She participated not in the general joy, but 
was evidently, even to the affrighted prisoner, much 
pained at the savage scene she was compelled to wit- 
ness. When the burning torches were about to be 
applied to the faggots which encompassed the prison- 
er, and the fatal tomahawk was raised to terminate 
forever his mortal existence, Milly Francis, (Tor that 
was her name) like an angel of mercy, placed herself 
between it and death,resoluteiy bidding the astonished 
executioner, if he thirsted for human blood, to shed 
hers ; being determined, she said, not to survive the 
prisoner's death. A momentary pause was produced 
by this unexpected occurrence, and she took advant- 



226 



INDIAN WARS. 



age of the circumstance to implore upon her knees the 
pity of the ferocious father, who finally yielded to her 
wishes ; with the intention, however, it is suspected, 
of murdering them both, if he could not sell M'Krim- 
mon to the Spaniards; which was luckily effected a few 
days after at St. Marks, for seven gallons and a half 
of rum. As long as M'Krimmon remained a prisoner 
his benefactress continued to show him acts of kind- 
ness. The fortune of war has since placed her, as we 
shall hereafter have occasion to notice, in the power 
of the white people, being compelled, with a number 
of others of her tribe who were in a starving condition, 
to surrender themselves prisoners. As soon as this 
fact was known to M'Krimmon, in manifestation of a 
due sense of the obligation which he owed to the wo- 
man who saved his life, at the hazard of her own, he 
sought her to alleviate her misfortune, and to offer her 
marriage ; but Milly would not consent to become his 
wife as a consideration of having saved his life, de- 
claring that she did no more than her duty, and that 
her intercessions were the same as they would ever 
have been on similar occasions. 

But to return. In these frequent outrages commit- 
ted upon the frontiers, it was somewhat difficult to de- 
termine who were the first aggressors, or on whom 
the greatest injuries were inflicted. Gen. Gaines, 
however, demanded a surrender of the Indians, who 
had committed depredations on the frontier of Geor- 
gia. With this demand they refused to comply, alleg- 
ing that the first and the greatest aggressions had been 
made by the white men. 

In consequence of this refusal, Gen. Gaines was 
authorized by the Secretary of war, at his discretion, 
to remove the Indians still remaining on the lands 
ceded to the United States by the treaty made with 
the Creeks. In so doing he was told that it might be 
proper to retain some of them as hostages, until re- 
paration was made for depredations committed by the 
Indians. In pursuance of this discretionary authority 
Gen. Gaines ordered a detachment of near 300 men, 



INDIAN WARS. 



under the command of Major Twiggs,to surround and 
take an Indian village called Fowl Town, about 14 
miles from fort Scott, and near the Florida line. This 
detachment arrived at Fowl Town in the night, and 
the Indians, taking the alarm, and flying to an adjacent 
swamp, were fired on by the detachment, when one 
man and one woman were killed and two Indians mt.de 
prisoners. The detachment returned to fort Scott. 
A day or two afterwards, as stated by Capt. M'ln- 
tosh, who was of the party, about the same number of 
troops paid a second visit to the same village, for the 
purpose of obtaining properly. While loading their 
waggons with corn, and collecting horses and cattle, 
they were fired on by the Indians, and a skirmish en- 
sued, in which a small loss was sustained on both sides. 
It was stated by Capt. Young, the topographical en- 
gineer, that this town contained 45 Indian warriors, 
besides women and children. 

From this time the war became more serious. The 
Indians in considerable nunibers were embodied, and 
an open attack was made on fort Scott. Gen. Gaines 
with about 600 regular soldiers, was confined to the 
garrison. In this state of things, information having 
been communicated to the War Department, Gen. 
Jackson was ordered to take the field. He was put 
in command of the regular and military force, amount- 
ing to 1800 men, provided for that service; and di- 
rected, if he should consider the force provided, in- 
sufficient to beat the enemy, (whose force was esti- 
mated by Gen. Gaines at 2800 strong) to call on the 
Governors of the ad joining states for such portions of 
the militia as he might think requisite. On the re- 
ceipt of this order Gen. Jackson, instead of observing 
the orders of the Department of War, by calling on 
the Governor of Tennessee, then in Nashville, near 
the place of his residence, chose to appeal ( to use his 
own expression) to the patriotism of the West Ten- 
nesseans, who had served under him in the last war. 
One thousand mounted gunmen, and two companies 
of what were called life-guards, with the utmost alac- 



228 



INDIAN WARS. 



rity, volunteered their services from the states of Ten 
nessee and Kentucky, and repaired to his standard. 
Officers were appointed to command this corps by the 
General himself, or by other persons, acting under his 
authority. Thus organized, they were mustered into 
the service of the United States. 

About the time Gen. Jackson was organizing this 
detachment of volunteers, in the state of Tennessee, or 
previous thereto. Gen. Gaines was likewise employed 
in raising forces among the Creek Indians. There 
was this difference in the two cases, Gen. Jackson 
raised his army in disregard of positive orders ; Gen. 
Gaines, without orders, took upon himself the author- 
ity of raising an army of at least 1600 Creek Indians, 
appointing their officers, with a Brigadier General at 
their head, and likewise mustering this force into the 
service of the United States. 

It appears that Gen. Jackson advanced into Florida, 
with a force of 1800 men, composed of regulars, vol- 
unteers, and the Georgia militia $ and afterwards, on 
the 1st day of April, was joined by Gen. M'Intosh and 
his brigade of 1600 Indians, who had been previously 
organized by Gen. Gaines. Opposed to whom, it ap- 
pears, from the report of Capt. Young, topographical 
engineer, and other evidence, the whole forces of the 
fugitive Seminole Indians and runaway negroes, had 
they all been embodied, could not have exceeded 900 
or 1000 men, and at no time did half that number pre- 
sent themselves to oppose his march. Of course little 
or no resistance was made. 

The Miskasmusky towns were first taken and 
destroyed. The army marched upon St. Marks, a 
feeble Spanish garrison, which surrendered without 
firing a gun, and was then occupied as an American 
post, the Spanish commandant having first by hum- 
ble entreaties, and then by a timid protest, endeav- 
oured to avert the measure. Here Alexander Ar- 
buthnot was found, taken prisoner, and put in con- 
finement, for the purpose, as it was stated by Gen. 
Jackson, "of collecting evidence to establish his 



1NDJ \ .M IVAHS. 



guilt 5 and here also were taken two Indian chiefs, 

one of whom pretended to possess the spirit of 
prophecy; they were hung without trial and with- 
out ceremony. Francis, who by the entreaties of 
his daughter, was persuaded to spare the life of 
M' Krimiuon, a captive, was the prophet above allud- 
ed to. 

This being done, and St. Marks garrisoned with 
American troops, the army pursued their march 
eastward to Suwaney river, on which they found a 
large Indian village, which was consumed, and the 
Indians and negroes were dispersed ; after which the 
army returned to St. Marks, bringing with them 
Robert C. Ainbrister, who had been taken prisoner 
on their march to Suwaney. 

During the halt of the army for a few days at St. 
Marks, a general court martial was called, Arbuthnot 
was arraigned., found guilty, sentenced to suffer death 
and hung. 

Ambrister was tried in like manner, found guilty, 
and sentenced to whipping and confinement. Gen. 
Jackson annulled the sentence, and ordered him to 
be shot, and this order was executed. 

Without additional preliminary remarks, we shall 
now proceed to furnish our readers with such official 
accounts of the commencement and progress of the 
war with the Seminoles, as have been communicated 
to 'government by the commanding officers. 

WAR DEPARTMENT TO M. Gen. GAINES. 

Extract of a letter from George Graham, Acting- 
Sec, of War, to Gen. Gaines, dated Oct. 30, 1817. 

" I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the 1st inst. covering a copy of the re- 
ply which was made by ten of the Seminole towns, 
to the demand made by you, on them, for the surren- 
der of the murderers of some of our citizens. 

" The papers have been submitted to the Presi- 
dent, and I am instructed by him to inform you, that 
30 



230 



INDIAN WARS. 



he approves of the movement of the troops from 
fort Montgomery to fort Scott. The appearance of 
this additional force, he flatters himself, will, at least 
have the effect of restraining the Seminoles from 
committing further depredations, and, perhaps of in- 
ducing* them to make reparation for the murders 
which they have committed. Should they, however, 
persevere in their refusal to make such reparation, it 
is the wish of the President that you should not, on 
that account, pass the line, and make an attack upon 
them within the limits of Florida, until you shall 
have received further instructions from this Depart- 
ment. You are authorized to remove the Indians 
still remaining on the lands ceded by the treaty made 
by Gen. Jackson with the Creeks ; and in doing so, 
it may be proper to retain some of them as hostages, 
until reparation may have been made for the depre- 
dations which have been committed. On this sub- 
ject, however, as well as the manner of removing 
them, you will exercise your discretion. Mcintosh, 
and the other chiefs of the Creek nation, who were 
here some time since, expressed then, decidedly, 
their unwillingness to permit any of the hostile In- 
dians to return to their nation. 

" P. S. The authority to remove the Indians will, 
of course not extend to those Indians and their 
families who have claims to reservations of land un- 
der the treaty. 55 

Copy of another letter from the same to to the same, 
dated December f, 1817. 

u Sir-— Your letter of the 9th ult. advising of the 
call on the Governor of Georgia, to assemble the 
auxiliary force which had been previously required 
by you at fort Hawkins, on the 26th ultimo, has been 
received. 

" It is hoped that the letter addressed to you from 
this department on the 30th October, will have been 
received $ and that you will confine your operations 



INIDAN WARS. 



231 



to the objects stated in that communication, and to 
such a disposition of the regular forces under your 
command, as will deter the Seminole Indians from 
making further depredations on the frontiers of 
Georgia. 

u The state of our negociation with Spain, and the 
temper manifested by the principal European powers, 
make it impolitic, in the opinion of the President, to 
move a force at this time into the Spanish possess- 
ions, for the mere purpose of chastising the Senii- 
noies for depredations which have heretofore been 
committed by them." 

GEN. E. P. GAINES TO THB WAR DEPARTMENT. 

"Head-Quarters, Fort Scott, Dec. 1,1317. 
"Sir — I had the honour to receive, on the 26th 
ultimo, your communication of the 30th October. I 
am very happy to find that the President approves of 
my movement, but I much regret that his just expec- 
tations, as to the effect there was reason to be- 
lieve would be produced on the minds of the Indians 
by this movement, have not been realized. I am 
now quite convinced that the hostility of these In- 
dians is, and has long since been of so deep a charac- 
ter as to leave no ground to calculate upon tranquillity 
or the future security of our frontier settlements, until 
the towns soutn and east of this place shall receive 
a signal proof of our ability and willingness to retal- 
iate for every outrage. It is now my painful duty to 
report an affair of a more serious nature than has 
heretofore occurred, and which leaves no doubt of 
the necessity of an immediate application of force, 
and active measures on our part. A large party of 
Seminole Indians, on the 30th ult, formed an ambus- 
cade upon the Appalachicola river, a mile below the 
junction of the Flint and Chatahoochie, attacked one 
of our boats ascending near the shore, and killed, 
wounded and took the greater part of the detach- 



232 



INDIAN WARS. 



ment, consisting of 40 men-, commanded by Lieut. R. 
W. Scott, of the 7th infantry. There were also on 
board, killed or taken, 7 women, the wives of soldiers. 
Six men of the detachment only escaped, four of 
•'vhom were wounded. They report that the 
-strength of the current at that point of attack had 
obliged the Lieutenant to keep his boat near the 
shore 5 that the Indians had formed along the bank 
of the river, and were not discovered until their fire 
had commenced ; in the first volley of which Lieut. 
Scott and most of his valuable men fell. 

"The Lieutenant and his party had been sent 
from this place, some days before, to assist Major 
Muhlenberg in ascending the river with three vessels 
laden with military stores, brought from Montgomery 
and Mobile. The Major, instead of retaining the 
party to assist him, as I had advised, retained ouiy 
about 20 men, and in their place put a like number 
of sick, with the women and regimental clothing. 
The boat, thus laden, was detached alone for this 
place. It is due to Major Muhlenburg, to observe, 
that, at the time he detached the boat, I have reason 
to believe he was not apprized of any recent hostili- 
ties having taken place in this quarter. It appears, 
however, from Lieutenant Scott's letter received 
about the hour in which he was attacked, that he had 
been warned of the danger. Uponuthe receipt of tins 
letter, I had two boats fitted out with covers and 
port holes, for defence, and detached Capt. Clinch, 
with an officer and 40 men with an order to secure 
the movement of Lieut. Scott, and then to assist 
M a j o r M u h 1 enb erg. 

" The detachment embarked late in the eveninc of 
the 30th, and must have passed the scene of action 
below at night, and some hours after the affair ter- 
minated. I have not yet heard from Capt. Clinch 
under Major Muhlenburg with another boat, secured 
against the enemy's fire. He will, therefore, move 
up with safety, keeping near the middle of the river. 
1 shall moreover take a position, with my principal 



INDIAN WARS. 



£33 



force, at the junction of the river, near the \\ne x and 
shall attack any vessel that may attempt to intercept 
our vessel and supplies below, as I feel persuaded 
the order of the President, prohibiting an attack up- 
on the Indians below the line, has reference to the 
past and not to the present or future outrages, such 
as shall place our troops strictly within the pale of 
natural law, where self-defence is sanctioned by the 
privilege of self-preservation. The wounded men 
who made their escape, concur in their opinion, that 
they had seen upwards of 500 hostile Indian warriors 
at different places beiow the point ; of the force en- 
gaged, they diiTer in opinion, but all agree that the 
number was very considerable, extending about 150 
yards along the shore, in the edge of a swamp or 
thick woods. I am assured by the friendly chiefs, 
that the hostile warriors of every town upon the 
Chatahoochie prepared canoes, and pushed off down 
the river to join the ^eminoles, as soon as the ac- 
count of my movement from the Alabama reached 
them. 

u The Indians now remaining upon the Chatahoo- 
chie, I have reason to believe, are well disposed. 
One of the new settlers, however, has recently been 
killed, but it has been clearly proved, that the mur- 
derer had belonged to the hostile party. The 
friendly chiefs in the neighbourhood, when apprised 
of the murder, assembled a party, and sent in pursuit 
of the offender, and followed him to Flint river on the 
route to Mickasukee, whither he escaped. Onishajo, 
and several other friendly chiefs, have offered me 
their services, with their warriors, to go against the 
Semmoles. I have promised to give them notice of 
the time that may be fixed for my departure, and then 
to accept their services. The enclosure No. 1, con- 
tains the substance of what I have said to the chiefs 
who have visited me, several of whom reside south 
of the Spanish line, and west of A ppalachicola riv- 
er. It was expected by the chiefs that I should 
communicate to them my views and wishes. I felt 



234. 



itfDIASr WARS. 



authorised to say but little, and I deemed it necessary 
in what I should say to endeavour to counteract the 
erroneous impressions by which they have been mis- 
led by pretended British agents. 

" I hope the President will see, in what I have said, 
nothing to disapprove. I feel persuaded a report of the 
various talks which I received from the chiefs, would 
show the propriety of what I have said to them. 
Such a report I have not a moment's time now to 
make. The Indians are at this moment firing at our 
camp from the opposite line of the river. 

" I have the honour to be, most respectfully, your 
most obedient humble servant, 

EDMUND P. GAINES. 

Major Gen. by Brevet commanding. 
" To the Hon. Secretary of War, Washington City," 

No. 1. f Enclosed in the above.) 

"Chibfs and warriors — The President of the 
United States has been informed of the murders and 
thefts committed by the hostile Indians, who have 
been required to deliver up the murderers of our 
citizens, and the stolen property ; but they refused 
to deliver either. They have had a council at 
Mickasaukee, in which they have determined upon 
war. They have been at war against helpless wo- 
men and children, let them now calculate upon fight- 
ing men. We have long known that we had enemies 
east of the river; we likewise know we have some 
friends ; but they are so mixed together that we 
cannot always distinguish the one from the other. 
The President wishes to do justice to his red friends, 
and to separate the bad from the good. Those who 
have taken up arms against him, and such as have 
listened to the bad talks of the people beyond the sea, 
must go to Mickasukee, or Suwaney, where we wish 
to find them together. But all those who were our 
friends in the war will sit at their homes in peace. 
We will pay them for what meat they have to sell 
us. We will be their friends, and when they are 



OffDIAN WARS* 



235 



hungry we will giro them meat; The hostile party 
pretend to calculate upon help from the British ; 
they may as well look for soldiers from the moon to 
help them. Their warriors were beaten, and driven 
from our country by American troops. The English 
are not able to help themselves; how then should 
they help the old " Red Sticks," whom they have 
joined hy pretended friendship. 

Extract of a letter from the same to the same, dated 
Head- Quarters, Fort Hawkins^ Dec, 16, 1817. 

u Sir — I arrived at this place the day before yester^ 
day morning. In the afternoon of the same day I 
received the detachment of Georgia militia, under 
the command of Brigadier General Glascock. They 
look well, and are ready to march ; but the inatten- 
tion on the part of the contractor's agent to the 
requisitions for a supply of rations, will, I apprehend, 
according to custom, delay the movement of the mi- 
litia, until some part of the frontier settlements suffer 
by the Indians, who, I have no doubt, will detach 
considerable parties, for this purpose, as soon as they 
find themselves unable to succeed in any attempt 
Ugainst the regular troops at fort Scott ; and I think 
it cannot be long before they are convinced of this. 
But although I consider the regular troops secure in 
the situation they occupy, yet I am satisfied their 
numbers will not warrant their being detaehed, or 
leaving their places of defence, except to a very small 
extent, i 

"I have just now received Mr. Graham's letter of 
the 2d inst. The views of the President, so far as 
may depend on me, shall be scrupulously observed. 
I should instantly discharge the Georgia militia, were 
I not strongly impressed with a belief that such a 
step would hazard the safety of the frontier settle- 
ments. The Seminole Indians, however strange and 
absurd it may appear to those who understand little 
of their real character and extreme ignorance, enter- 



tSTDIAN- WARS'. 



tain a notion that they cannot bo beaten by our troops. 
They confidently assert, that we have never beaten 
them, or any of their people, except wfae© we have 
been assisted by the u red people. 5 ' 

u This will appear the less extraordinary, when it 
is recollected that they have little or no means of 
knowing the strength and resources of our country 5 
they have not travelled through k; they read nei- 
ther books nor newspapers, nor have they oppor- 
tunities of conversing with persons able to inform 
them. 

" I feel warranted, from all I know of the savages, 
in saying, they do not believe we can beat them. 

" This error of theirs has led them from time to 
time, for many years past, to massacre oar frontier 
citizens, often the unoffending and helpless mother 
and babes. I felt myself fully authorized to adopt 
the only measures which long experience has proved 
to be fully adequate, to put a stop to these outrages.- 
I was pleased with the prospect of being instru- 
mental in effecting an object of so much importance 
to our exposed frontier settlements, and which I felt, 
and still feel persuaded, would in the end benefit the 
Indians. 

" The steps I have taken are known to the depart- 
ment of war. You can more readily conceive, than 
I describe, the mortification and disappointment I 
have experienced in being compelled to suspend or 
abandon my measures, at a moment when the loss of 
Lieut. Scott and his party had given the enemy an 
occasion for triumph, and a certain prospect of in- 
creasing his strength, by enlisting against us all who 
had before wavered or hesitated. 

a Permit me then to repeat my request that I may 
be permitted to return. 

66 There is little reason to apprehend that we shall 
find it necessary to follow the Indians beyond the na- 
tional boundary. They are now to be found in very 
considerable parties on our side of the line. 



INDIAN WARS. 237 

" I have not a doubt of the necessity of sending to 
Flint river, by way of Hartford, the detachment of 
militia under Gen. Glascock. 

"My endeavours to put the detachment in motion 
will delay my own movement until the 17th inst. at 
which ti:ae I shall resume my march to Point Peter. 

"An opinion prevails among the well informed of 
this part of the country ( who have by some means 
unknown to me been advised of our intention to take 
Amelia island) that our troops there will meet with 
no opposition. Should this be the case, I shall return 
to fort Scott without delay. 

"I have the honour to be, &c. 

"EDMUND P. GAINES, Maj. Gen. Comd. 
" Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Sec. of War." 

#OPY ©F A LETTER FROM J. C. CALHOUN, SECRETARY OF WAR, TO GEN", 
GAINES, DATED DEC. 16) 18 17. 

"Sir — On the receipt of this letter, should the 
Seminole Indians still refuse to make reparations for 
their outrages and depredations on the citizens of the 
United States, it is the wish of the President, that 
you consider yourself at liberty to march across the 
Florida line, and to attack them within its limits, 
should it be found necessary, unless they should shel- 
ter themselves under a Spanish fort. In the last 
event, you will immediately notify this department* 

"i have 9 &,c. &c. ?5 

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TO GENERAL 
JACKSON, DATED 

" Department of War, Dec. 26, 1817. 
" Sir — You will repair, with as little delay as prac- 
ticable, to fort Scott, and assume the immediate com- 
mand of the forces in that section of the southern di- 
vision. 

"The increasing display of hostile intentions by the 
Seminole Indians, may render it necessary to concen- 
trate all the contiguous and disposable force of your 
SI 



258 



INDIAN WARS. 



division, upon that quarter. The regular force now 
there is about 800 strong, and 1000 militia of the state 
of Georgia are called into service. Gen. Gaines esti- 
mates the strength of the Indians at 2700. Should 
you be of opinion that our numbers are too small to 
beat the enemy, you will call on the executives of the 
adjacent states for such an additional militia force as 
you may deem requisite. 

Gen. Gaines had been ordered early in last month 
to repair to Amelia island. It is presumed that he 
has, therefore, relinquished the command at fort Scott. 
Subsequent orders have been given to Gen. Gaines, 
(copies of which will be furnished you,) advising him 
that you would be directed to take command, and di- 
recting him to reassume, should he deem the public 
interest to require it, the command at fort Scott, un- 
til you should arrive there. If t however, the General 
should have progressed to Florida, before the subse- 
quent orders may have reached him, he was instruct- 
ed to penetrate to the Seminole towns, through the 
Floridas, provided the strength of his command at 
Amelia would justify his engaging in offensive ope- 
rations. 

" With this view, you may be prepared to concen- 
trate your forces and to adopt the necessary meas- 
ures, to terminate a conflict, which it has been the de- 
sire of the President, from considerations of human- 
ity, to avoid, but which is now made necessary by their 
settled hostility. 

" With great respect, &c. J. C. CA LHOUN. 

"Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, comdg. southern division." 

MAJ. GEN. JACKS OX TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT. 

"H.Q. Division of the South, Nashville, Jan §0, 1818. 
Sir — In a communication to you of the 12th inst. 
I acknowledged the receipt of your order of the 26th 
ult. and advised you of the appeal T had made to the 
patriotism of the West Tennesseeans. Yesterday, the 
officers who had so gallantly headed the Tennessee 
mounted volunteers during the Creek campaigns, met 



1NIDAN WARS. 



£39 



me at this place, and gave every assurance of their 
ability to assemble two regiments of mounted gun- 
men, by t lie 3 1st inst. at any designated point within 
the western part of the state. I have ordered them 
to rendezvous at Fayettevilie, and as many as may ap- 
pear on the 31st inst. or the 1st of February, to be 
mustered and received into service for six months, 
(if not sooner discharged,) by my Inspector General. 
The contractor has instructions to issue to these 
troops 20 days rations, and every measure has been 
adopted to facilitate their march, via Fort Jackson, by 
the most direct practicable route to fort Scott. 
These troops will be well supplied as far as fort 
Jackson, and there the necessary provisions may be 
obtained, and packed to answer their immediate 
wants, until they are intercepted by supplies from 
below. Maj. Fanhing has been despatched to fort 
Hawkins, to purchase and forward on these supplies 
to the most convenient point of interception. 
With respect, &,c. 

"ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. com." 

"Hob. J. C. Calhouh,. Secretary of War.'*' 

SECRETARY OF WAR TO Gen. JACKSON. 

EXTRACT OP A LETTER FROM J. C. CALHOUN, SECRETARY OF WAR, 
TO MAJ. GEN. ANDREW JACKSON, DATED 

January 24, 1818. 

"Your letters of the 12th and 13th inst. are re- 
ceived. The measures you have taken to bring an 
efficient force into the field are approbated ; and 
a confident hope is entertained, that a speedy and 
successful termination of the Indian war will follow 
your exertions. 

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TO MAJ. 
GEN. ANDREW JACKSON, DATED 

*' Department of War, February 6, 181S. 

" I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the 20th ult. and to acquaint you with 



INDIAN WARS. 



the entire approbation of the President of all the 
measures which you have adopted to terminate the 
rupture with the Indians. The honour of our arms, 
as well as the interest of our country, requires that it 
should be as speedily terminated as practicable 5 and 
the confidence reposed in your skill and promptitude 
assures us that peace will be restored on such condi- 
tions as will make it honourableand permanent. s? 

GEN. JACKSON TO THE SEC. OF WAR. 

" Fort Gadsden, east bank of the Appalachicola > 
river, formerly Negro fort, Mareh 20, 1818. 5 

"Sir — At t o'clock,. P. M. on the 9th inst. I reach- 
ed fort Scott, with the brigade of Georgia mi lit ia, 
900 bayonets strong, and some of the friendly Creeks, 
who had joined me on my march a few days before, 
where finding but one quart of corn per man, and a 
few poor cattle, which added to the live pork I 
brought with me would give us three days rations of 
meat, determined me at once to use this small sup-? 
ply to the best advantage. Accordingly, having been 
advised by Col. Gibson, Quarter-M aster- General, 
that he would sail from New-Orleans on the 12th of 
February, with supplies ; and being also advised that 
two sloops with provisions were in the bay, and an 
officer had been despatched from fort Scott in a large 
keel boat to bring up a part of their loading, and 
deeming that the preservation ©f these supplies would 
foe to preserve the army, and enable me to prosecute 
the campaign, I assumed the command on the morn- 
ing of the 10th, ordered the live stock to be slaugh- 
tered and issued to the troops with one quart of corn 
to each man, and the line of march to be taken up 
at 12, meridian. Having to cross the Flint river, 
which was very high, combined with some neglect in 
returning the boats during a very dark night, I was 
unable to move from the opposite bank until 9 o'clock 
on the morning of the 11th, when I took up my line 



UCttlAN WARS. 



2X1 



of march down the cast bank of the river for this 
place, touching the river as often as practicable, 
looking for the provision boat which was ascending, 
and which I was fortunate enough to meet on the 
13ih, when I ordered an extra ration to the troops, 
they not having received a full one of meal or flour 
since their arrival at fort Early. 

" On that day my patroies captured three prison- 
ers, and found some hidden corn. On the morning 
of the 14th I ordered the boat down the river to 
this place, whilst I descended by land, and reached 
here without interruption on the 16th. The eligibil- 
ity of this spot as a depot determined me, and I im- 
mediately directed my aid-de-camp, Lieut. Gadsden, 
of the engineer corps, to furnish a plan for, and su- 
perintend the erection of a fortification. His talents 
and indefatigable zeal displayed in the execution of 
this order, induced me to name it fort Gadsden 5 to 
which he is justly entitled. 

" From information received from Pensacola and 
Pfew- Orleans, I have no doubt but that St. Marks is 
in possession of the Indians. The governor of Pen- 
sacola informed Capt. Call, of the 1st infantry, (now 
herej that the Indians had demanded arms, ammuni- 
tion and provisions, or the possession of the garrison 
of St. Marks of the commandant, and that he presumed 
possession would be given from inability to defend it. 
The Spanish government is bound by treaty to keep 
the Indians at peace with us. They have acknowl- 
edged their incompetency to do this, and are conse- 
quently bound by the law of nations to yield us all 
facilities to reduce them. Under this consideration, 
should I be able, I shall take possession of the gar- 
rison as a depot for my supplies, should it be found 
in the hands of the Spaniards, they having supplied 
the Indians 5 but if in the hands of the enemy, I will 
possess it for the benefit of the United States, as a 
necessary position for me to hold, to give peace and 
security to this frontier, and put a final end to Indian 
w arfare in the south. 



H2 



INDIAN WARS. 



" Finding- it very difficult to supply fort Crawford, 
on the Caneucho, by land, I have ordered the sup- 
plies for that garrison by water, and written to the 
governor of Pensaeola, that if he interrupts them 
during the present Indian war 5 I shall view it as aid- 
ing our enemy, and treat it as an act of hostility, and 
stated to him the propriety under existing circum- 
stances, of his affording all facilities to put down their 
own as well as our enemies, and that our governments 
while negociating can take the subject under consid- 
eration, but, in the meantime, our provisions must 
pass to fort Crawford by water without interrup- 
tion, 

66 In mine, of the £6th ultimo, from fort Early, I 
stated that despatches, received by Gen. Gaines on 
the 10th inst. from the commanding* officer at fort 
Scott, induced him to set out that night for fort Scott, 
to prevent its abandonment, &,c. In his passage down 
the Flint river he was shipwrecked, by which he lost 
his assistant adjutant-general, Maj. C. Wright, and 
two soldier's drowned. The General reached me 
six days after, nearly exhausted by hunger and cold, 
having lost his baggage and clothing, and being com- 
pelled to wander in the woods four and a half days 
without any thing to subsist on, or any clothing ex- 
cept a pair of pantaloons. I am happy to have it in 
my power t o say, that he is now with me at the head 
of his brigade in good health. 

" ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. comd'g. 

"P. S. Gen. M ? In tosh, commanding the friendly 
Creeks, who had been ordered to reconnoitre the 
right bank of the Appalachicola, reported to me on 
the 19th, that he had eaptured, without the lire of 
a gun, 180 women and children, and 53 warriors of 
the Red Ground Chief's party, with their cattle and 
supplies. The chief and 20 warriors made their es- 
cape on horseback. Ten of the warriors, attempting 
to escape after they had surrendered, were killed by 
the general. A. J." 



INDIAN WAR*. 



243 



ADJUTANT GEN. BUTLER TO THE SEC. OF WAR. 

" Head- Quarters, Division of the South, } 
Adjutant General s Office, Fort Gadsden, > 
Appalachicola river, May 3. 1S18. J 

"Sir — I have the honour to report, that the army 
under the immediate command of Maj. Gen. Andrew 
Jackson, took up the line of march on the 26th day 
of March last, with eight days rations, and lay in ad- 
vance of this post about six miles on the 29th at 
Ochlochaway river, when 19 canoes were made, and 
the principal part of the army crossed by 8 o'clock, 
P. M. Major Twiggs was detached with one com- 
pany and about 200 warriors, with orders to advance 
on an Indian village called Tallahasse,and surprise it 
at day-break. On his near approach he despatched 
a party to ascertain its situation, who reported it 
evacuated some days before. On the morning of the 
31st he entered the village, having previously sent 
out parties to reconnoitre ; two of the enemy were 
made prisoners, one of whom made his escape from 
the Indians before he was brought into camp. The 
army passed the village about 12 o'clock, and en- 
camped near Mickasuky, when intelligence was re- 
ceived of the approach of a detachment of mounted 
volunteers, from Tennessee, under the command of 
Lieut. Col. Elliot, near 400 strong. On the morning 
of the 1st of April, the army formed and halted until 
their arrival, when they were ordered to form the 
advance of each flank, with Captains Russel and 
Evan's companies as spies, with Captain John Gor- 
don. The army now advanced within one mile and 
a half of Kinghajah town, when a number of Indians 
were discovered herding cattle in the margin of a 
large pond. The General ordered the right and 
left columns to advance, with a view of cutting off 
their retreat, and at the same time instructed the ad- 
vance light company under Major Muhlenberg, the 
guard, Major Nicks, together with the small compa- 
nies composing his life guard, under Captain* Dun lap 
and Crittenden, to advance in support of the spies, ia 



INDIAN WARS.- 



tbe event of a general engagement. The spy com- 
panies commenced the attack, and a brisk running 
fire was kept up on both sides for some minutes, 
when the enemy divided, the spy companies pursuing 
those on the right, and Lieut. Col. Elliot, having 
turned their flank, became general!^ engaged, and 
bore them over to the left column, under the command 
of Lieut. Col. Mitchell, within half gun-shot of each 
other, when they were assailed by both flanks and 
would all have fallen, had not the volunteers" taken 
up the impression (Trom the similarity of dress) that 
some of the friendly warriors had reached in pursuit 
of the enemy, which occasioned the firing to cease 
for a short time, when a number made good their 
retreat into the swamp. Capt, Crittenden 5 s com- 
pany being on horse back, was unable to reach 
the head of Lieut. Col. Eliioi 5 s column, when they 
dismounted and operated against the enemy. Major 
Muhienburg 9 s company, the advance guard and Cap- 
tain Dunlap's company being on foot was not able 
to reach the scene of action in time. The right col- 
uran of Georgia militia on nearing the pond filed 
round it, and Col. King, with his regiment, was 
ordered to advance through it to support the column 
of horse, should it be found necessary ; which was 
executed by the Colonel with great promptitude. 
The conduct of the officers and soldiers engaged on 
this occasion, was in every respect praiseworthy. 
Our loss was one man of Captain Andrew's company 
killed, and four of Capt. Evan's company of Ten- 
nessee volunteers wounded. The reports give M 
killed and several wounded of the enemy, and four 
women prisoners, from whom we learned that 300 
warriors had advanced from the town to aid those 
engaged, and on seeing the advance of an army, fled 
precipitately. The army now advanced upon the 
town which was found deserted ; and on reaching the 
square discovered a red pole planted at the council 
house, on which was suspended about 50 fresh scalps, 
taken from the heads of extreme age, down to the 



INDIAN WARS. 



245 



tender infant, of both sexes, and in an adjacent house, 
those of near 300 men, which bore the appearance 
of having been the barbarous trophies of settled hos- 
tility for three or four years past. 

"The army continued the pursuit to a large pond 
of water, which is eight miles in length, varying in 
width from 600 to 4000 yards, and from two to five 
feet deep 5 through which the army passed, when 
the approach of night induced the commanding gen- 
eral to draw off his troons. On the succeeding 
morning brevet Maj. Gen. E. P. Gaines, with a large 
command, was ordered to pass the lake or pond, and 
attack the other towns ; but which he found aban- 
doned by the enemy. The red pole was again found 
planted in the square of Fowl Town, barbarously 
decorated with human scalps, of both sexes, taken 
within the last six months from the heads of our un- 
fortunate citizens. Gen. Mcintosh, who was with 
Gen. Gaines, routed a small party of savages near 
Fowl Town, killed one negro and took three prison- 
ers, on one of whom was found the coat of James 
Champion, of Capt. Cu mining's company, 4th regi- 
ment of infantry, who was killed by the Indians on 
board of one of our boats descending the river to the 
relief of Major Muhlenberg; this coat with nearly 
all Capt. Cuinming's company's clothing was lost en 
board of Lieut. Scott's boat, when he and his party 
were massacred on the 30th of November last. The 
pocket book of Mr. Leigh, who was murdered at 
Cedar Creek on the 2 1st January last, was found in 
Kinghajah's town, containing several letters address- 
ed to the deceased t and one to General Glascock. 
About 1000 head of cattle fell into our hands, many 
of which were recognized by the Georgia militia as 
having brands and marks of their citizens. Near 
3000 bushels of corn was found, with other articles 
useful to the army. Upwards of 300 houses were 
consumed, leaving a tract of fertile country in ruin ; 
where these wretches might have lived in plenty, 
but for the vile machinations of foreign trad ers, if not 
32 



246 



INDIAN WARS. 



agents. The army remained at this point until the 
morning of the 5th, when the march was resumed 
for St. Marks, before which it arrived on the evening 
of the 6th 5 and, after communicating with the com- 
manding officer, took possession of that fortress on 
the following morning. Capt. M'Keever of the navy, 
having sailed for St. Marks with some vessels con- 
taining supplies for the army, was fortunate enough 
to entice on board his vessel in the river, Francis, or 
Hillishajo, and Homathlamico, hostile chiefs of the 
Creek nation, and whose settled hostility have been 
severely felt by our citizens. The commanding Gen- 
eral had- them brought on shore, and ordered them 
to be hung, as an example to deter others from ex- 
citing these deluded wretches to future scenes of 
butchery. A man by the name of A. Arbuthnot was 
also taken on the arrival of the army, and placed in 
close confinement. 

u The troops having again received eight days 
rations, and a garrison detached for fort St. Marks, 
the army marched on the 9th of April, destined for 
Suwaney. On the morning of the 12th the officer 
of the day reported, that the sentinels had heard the 
lowing of cattle and barking of dogs during the night ; 
from which the General was induced to send a runner 
to General M'Intosh, who encamped a short distance 
in the rear of the army, with instructions to have the 
country examined. In the mean time, the army mov- 
ed slowly in advance. General M'Intosh despatched 
Major Kanard, with a party, who returned to him a 
runner, reporting the discovery of a hostile party too 
strong for his little band of warriors. M'Intosh 
moved against them with his whole force, and a small 
detachment of different companies of the Tennesse 
volunteers, under Colonels Dyer and Williamson, 
(they having joined the army on the evening of the 
10th) and, on hearing the report of Major Kanard, 
formed themselves into a company under Captain 
Bell, who was with them, and moved to attack the 
enemy, whom they found near a large swamp, en- 



INDIA IV WARS. 



24,7 



deavojiring to move off. A spirited engagement en- 
sued, which resulted in the death of 37, and 6 men 
and 98 women and children prisoners ; and our loss 
three killed and four wounded of the friendly Indians. 
The only woman out of seven, whose life was spared 
at the massacre of Lieut, Scott, was here re-captured 
by Major Kanard. Gen. M'Jntosh individually kill- 
ed three of the enemy and captured one. The little 
band of Tennessee volunteers acted on this occasion 
as becomes their character. At the commencement 
of the action the army was halted, and a runner des- 
patched to inform Gen. M'Intosh that any aid he 
might deem necessary would be afforded, and that 
the army would remain until his arrival, which was 
not until we encamped for the night. 

" The enemy abandoned a number of horses, hogs, 
corn, and about 600 head of cattle. The army mov- 
ed on the morning of the 13th, and on the succeed- 
ing day our spies surprised a camp, consisting of two 
men, a woman and two children. One of the men 
was killed; the others, with a small boy, slightly 
wounded 5 and the woman, unfortunately, not being 
distinguished in the swamp, received a wound, of 
which she died. 

"At 3 o'clock, P. M. on the 29th, the army arrived 
at a large pond, within 6 miles of Bowleg's town, 
on Suwaney river, where a few Indians, well 
mounted, discovered our advance. An attempt was 
made to overtake them ; but the enfeebled state of 
our horses rendered it impracticable. Under these 
circumstances, the General deemed it advisable to 
make the town by a forced march, not allowing the 
enemy time to cross the river, and destroy their sup- 
plies. The manner of attack having been previously 
arranged, the army moved rapidly, until arriving near 
a thick wood which flanks the town, when the troops 
changed position, conformably to previous orders, 
and moved forward. The left flank, composed of 
Col. Williamson's regiment of Tennessee volunteers, 
at the head of which a force of Indian warriors 



INDIAN WARS, 



under CoS. Kanard, soon came in contact with, 
and warmly engaged the Indians and negroes, whilst 
the right flank, composed of Col. Dyer's regiment of 
Tennessee volunteers, with a like force of warriors 
under Gen. M'Intosh, advanced near the river, to 
prevent the enemy from crossing, 1 he centre ad- 
vanced in excellent order, and under the expectation 
of having to combat with the strength of these towns, 
and the fugitives from Mickasuky ; but on reaching 
Bowlegs 5 Town, found it abandoned. The left 
flank, from the nature of the ground they had ta-tra- 
verse, and Colonel Kan an} not adhering to the route 
designated, drove the Indians and negroes, about 800, 
into the river, before the right flank could occupy 
the desired position. 

" The reports gave 11 killed and 3 prisoners on the 
field, and it is believed many were killed and drowned 
in swimming the river, it being nearly 300 yards wide. 
Col. Kanard had 13 wounded, one dangerously. 
About B700 bushels of corn were obtained in the 
towns and neighbouring swamps, and nearly 90 head 
of cattle and a number of horses. Our sentinels on 
the night of the 17th, took prisoners two white men 
(Ambrister and Cook) and one negro, who had just 
returned from Arbuthnot's vessel, at the mouth of 
Suwaney. From the latter we obtained a letter 
written by A. Arbuthnot to his son, in which he enu- 
merates the army of the U. States, under the Gen- 
eral 9 s command, and requests him to inform his friend 
Bowlegs, that resistance would be fruitless against 
such an overwhelming force, and to make over the 
river with ail despatch ; admonishing his son, at the 
game time, to remove and secrete every thing that 
could be removed. From Cook we learned, that 
this was read to the negroes and Indians, when they 
immediately commenced crossing their families, and 
had just finished as we entered their towns. Upwards 
of 300 houses were here consumed, the most of which 
were well built, and somewhat regular, extending 
pear three miles up the river. On the morning of 



INDIAN WARS. 



249 



the 18th Gen. Gaines was ordered, with a select com- 
mand, and a number of warriors under Gen. M'ln- 
tosh, to cross the Suwaney river, in pursuit of the 
enemy, but found, on advancing about 6 miles, that 
they were dispersed in every direction, from the 
numerous trails, and too far advanced to overtake 
them, his command being short cf supplies. 

44 A. detachment of warriors having advanced some 
distance, fell in with a small party of the enemy, killed 
three warriors, took some women and children, and 
five negroes. On the same morning Lieut. James 
Gadsden, Aid-de-Camp to the commanding General 
descended the Suwaney river to its mouth, with 
Capt. Durilap's and a few of Capt. Crittenden's com- 
panies of the life-guard and a small detachment of 
the regulars, and captured without difficulty the 
schooner of A. Arbuthnot, which had brought sup- 
plies of powder and lead to the Indians and negroes, 
settled at Suwaney. This vessel afforded the 
means of transporting our sick back to St. Marks. 
On the evening of the 20th, Gen. Glascock was 
ordered, at his request, to march his brigade by 
Mickasuky to Hartford, in Georgia, and Captain 
Bell ordered to muster those out of service, and the 
army moved about three quarters of a mile prepara- 
tory to its return. On the 20th Gen. M'lntosh was 
ordered to proceed direct to fort Scott, on Flint riv- 
er, and an order furnished him to the commanding 
officer to muster his warriors out of service. 

"The army reached fort St. Marks on the 25th, 
having marched 28 miles on that day ; and we were 
agreeably surprised in finding that Lieut. Gadsden 
had arrived in safety that evening, from the mouth of 
the Suwaney. On the 26th a special court was or- 
dered, for the trial of A. Arbuthnot and Robert C. 
Ambrister, which court, on the documents and evi- 
dence adduced, sentenced the first to be hung, and 
the latter to be shot. They were accordingly exe- 
cuted on the morning of the 29th. The army moved 
and encamped on the evening of the 28th, and arrived 



250 



INDIAN WARS. 



at fort Gadsden on the 2d inst. The General having 
previously detached a garrison of 200 men, under the 
command of brevet Major Fanning, to occupy fort 
St. Marks. I have only to add, that this army has 
borne hardships and privations to a great extent, in a 
manner becoming soldiers and citizens of a nation 
proud of their liberties. 

"And have the honour to be, very respectfullv, 
your most obedient servant, 

ROBERT BUTLER, Adj. Gen. 

"Brig. Gen. Daniel Parker, Adj. and Insp. Gen." 

General Jackson in a letter to the Secretary of 
War, stating his reasons for having demanded from 
the Spanish Commandant the surrender of fort St. 
Marks, concludes thus: u It could not be maintained 
by the Spanish force garrisoning it. The Indians 
and negroes viewed it as an asylum if driven from 
the towns, and were preparing to occupy it, in this 
event. It was necessary to anticipate their move- 
ments, independent of the position being deemed 
essential as a depot on which the success of my fu- 
ture operations measurably depended. In the spirit 
of friendship, I, therefore, demanded its surrender 
to the army of the United States, until the close of 
the Seminole war. The Spanish commandant re- 
quired time to reflect: it was granted; and a negoti- 
ation ensued, and an effort was made to protract it to 
an unwarrantable length. In the conversation be- 
tween my Aid-de-camp, Lieut. Gadsden, and the 
Spanish commandant, circumstances transpired con- 
vincing him of a disposition to favour the Indians, and 
having taken an active part in aiding and abetting 
them in this war. I hesitated, therefore, no longer ; 
and, as I could not be received in friendship, I enter- 
ed the fort by violence. Two light companies of the 
7th rogiment of infantry, and ore of the 4th, under the 
command of Major Twiggs, were ordered to advance, 
lower the Spanish colours and hoist the star-spangled 
banner on the ramparts of fort St. Marks. The 



INDIAN WAW8, 



order was executed promptly. No resistance was 
attempted on the part of the Spanish garrison. 

" In fort St. Marks, an inmate in the family of the 
Spanish commandant, an Englishman, by the name 
of Arbuthnot, was found. Unable satisfactorily to ex- 
plain the object of his visiting this country, and there 
being a combination of circumstances to justify a sus- 
picion that his views were not honest, he was ordered 
into close confinement. On the capture of his 
schooner near the mouth of Suwaney river, by my 
Aid-de-camp, Lieut. Gadsden, papers were found on 
board, unveiling his corrupt transactions, as well as 
those of Captain Ambrister, late of the British colo- 
nial marine corps, taken as a prisoner near Bowlegs' 
town. 'These individuals were tried under my orders, 
by a special court of select officers, legally convicted 
as exciters of this savage and negro war, legally con- 
demned, and most justly punished for their iniquities. 

u Previous to my leaving fort Gadsden 1 had oc- 
casion to address a communication to the Governor 
of Pensacola, on the subject of permitting supplies to 
pass up the Escambia river to fort Crawford. This 
letter, with another from St. Marks on the subject of 
some United States clothing, shipped in a vessel in 
the employ of the Spanish Government, to that post, 
I now enclose with his reply. The Governor of 
Pensacola refusing my demand cannot but be viewed 
as evincing an hostile feeling on his part, particular- 
ly in connection with some circumstances reported to 
me from the most unquestionable authority. It has 
been stated that the Indians at war with the United 
States, have free access into Pensacola; that they 
are kept advised, from that quarter, of all our move- 
ments ; that they are supplied from thence with am- 
munition and munitions of war ; and that they are 
now collecting in a large body, to the number of 4 or 
500 warriors, in that city. That inroads from thence 
have been lately made on the Alabama; in one of 
which, 18 settlers fell by the tomahawk. These 
statements compel me to make a movement to the 



S52 FKBIAN WARS. 

west of the Appalaehicola, and, should tjbej prove 
correct, Pensacola must be occupied with an Amer- 
ican force , the Governor treated according to his 
deserts, or as policy may dictate. I shall leave strong 
garrisons in forts St. Marks, Gadsden and Scott, and 
in Pensacola, should it become necessary t§ possesss 
it. It becomes my duty to state it, as my confirmed 
opinion, that, so long as Spain has not the power or 
will to enforce the treaties by which she is solemnly 
bound to preserve the Indians within her territory, 
at peace with the United States* no security can be 
given to our southern frontier, without occupying a 
chain of posts along the sea shore. The moment 
the American army retires from Florida, the war 
hatchet will be again raised, and the same scenes of 
indiscriminate massacre with which our frontier set- 
tlers have been visited will he repeated. So long 
as the Indians within the territory of Spain are ex- 
posed to the delusions of false prophets and poison of 
foreign intrigue; so long as they can receive ammu- 
nition, munitions of war, &,c. from pretended traders 
and Spanish commandants, it will be impossible to 
restrain their outrages. The burning of their towns, 
the destroying of their stock and provisions, will pro- 
duce very little else but temporary embarrassments, 
lie- supplied by Spanish authorities, they may con- 
centrate and disperse at will, and keep up a lasting 
predatory warfare against the frontiers of the United 
States, as expensive to our government as harass- 
ing to our troops. The savages, therefore, must be 
made dependent upon us, and cannot be kept at 
peace without being persuaded of the certainty of 
chastisement being inflicted on the commission of the 
least offence. I trust, therefore, that the measures 
which have been pursued will meet with the approba- 
tion of the President of the United States. They 
have been adopted in pursuance of your instructions, 
and under a firm conviction that they alone were cal- 
culated to insure " peace and security to the southern 
frontier of Georgia. 5 ? 



INDIAN WARS. 



253 



" The army will move on the 7th from hence, cross- 
ing the Appalachicola river, at the Ochesee bluff, 
about 40 miles above this. 

"ANDREW JACKSON, Maj. Gen. comd'g. 

"Hon. J. C. Calhoun. Secretary of War." 

The following extract of a letter from Gen. Jack- 
son to the Secretary of War, dated fort Montgomery, 
June 2, will acquaint the reader with his reasons as 
therein stated, for having penetrated so far, and taken 
forcible possession of Pensacola. 

" On the 10th of May my army crossed the river 
at the Ochesee village, and after a fatiguing, tedious 
and circuitous march of 12 days, misled by the igno- 
rance of our pilots, and exposed to the severest pri- 
vations, we finally reached and effected a passage over 
the Escandria. On my march on the 23d of May, a pro- 
test from the Governor of Pensacola was delivered to 
me by a Spanish officer, remonstrating in warm terms 
against my proceedings, and ordering me and my 
force instantly to quit the territory of his Catholic Ma- 
jesty, with a threat to apply force in the event of a non- 
compliance. This was so open an indication of a hos- 
tile feeling on his part,after having been early and well 
advised of the objects of my operations, that I hesi- 
tated no longer on the measures to be adopted. I 
marched for and entered Pensacola with only the 
show of resistance, on the 24th of May. The Gov- 
ernor had previously fled to fort Carlos de Barrancas, 
where it is said he resolved upon a most desperate 
resistance. The peaceable surrender of the Fort 
at the Barrancas was denied. I marched for and in- 
vested it on the evening of the 25th of May, and on 
the same night pushed reconnoitering parties under its 
very guns. On the morning of the 26th a military re- 
connoisance was taken, and on the same night a lodge- 
ment was made, under a fire from the Spanish garri- 
son, by Capt. Gadsden of the Engineers, aided by 
Capts. Call and Young, on a commanding position, 
within 385 yards of the Spanish works, and a nine 
33 



254; 



INDIAN WARS. 



pounder mounted. A howitzer battery was simulta- 
neously established on the capital and within 750 
yards of the fort. At day-light on the 27th, the Span- 
ish garrison opened their artillery on our batteries ; a 
parley was sounded, a flag sent in, and the surrender 
of fort Carlos de Barrancas again demanded ; the fa- 
vorable positions obtained were pointed out, and the 
inutility of resistance urged. Anxious to avoid an 
open contest, and to save the effusion of blood, the 
same terms previously offered were again tendered. 
These were rejected and offensive operations re-com- 
menced. A spirited and well directed fire was kept 
up the greater part of the morning, and at intervals 
during the afternoon. In the evening a flag was sent 
from the Spanish Commandant, offering to capitulate, 
and a suspensien of hostilities was granted until eight 
V clock the next day, when articles of capitulation 
were signed and agreed to. The terms are more fa- 
vorable than a conquered enemy would have merited ; 
but, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, my 
object obtained, there was no motive for wounding the 
feelings of those whose military pride or honour had 
prompted to the resistance made. The articles, with 
but one condition, amount to the complete cession to 
the United States of that portion of the Floridas, hith- 
erto under the government of Don Jose Masot. 

" The Seminole war may now be considered at a 
close, tranquillity again restored to the southern fron- 
tier of the United States, and, as long as a cordon of 
military posts is maintained along the gulf of Mexico, 
America has nothing to apprehend from either for- 
eign or Indian hostilities. Indeed, Sir, to attempt to 
fortify or protect an imaginary line, or to suppose that 
a frontier on the 31st degree of latitude, in a wilder- 
ness, can be secured by a cordon of military posts, 
whilst the Spanish authorities were not maintained in 
the Floridas, and that the country lay open to the use 
and excitement of any enemy, is visionary in the ex- 
treme. On the immutable principle, therefore, of 
self-defence,, authorized by the law of nature and of 



INDIAN WARS. 255 

nations, have I bottomed all my operations. On the 
fact that the Spanish officers had aided and abetted 
the Indians, and thereby became a party in hostility 
against us, do I justify my occupying the Spanish for- 
tresses. Spain has disregarded the treaties existing 
with the American government, or had not power to 
enforce them. The Indian tribes within her territory, 
and which she was bound to keep at peace, had visited 
our citizens with all the horrors of savage war. Ne- 
gro brigands were establishing themselves when and 
where they pLeased, and foreign agents were openly 
and knowingly practising their intrigues in this neu- 
tral territory. The immutable principles of self-de- 
fence j ustified, therefore, the occupancy of the Flori- 
das, and the same principles will warrant the Ameri- 
can government in holding it until such time as Spain 
can guarrantee, by an adequate military force, the 
maintaining her authority within the colony. 
" With respect, yours, &c. 

"ANDREW JACKSON, Ma}. Gen. com." 
"The Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Sec'ry at War." 

It is stated that Arbuthnot, who was publicly exe- 
cuted as a spy, by order of Gen. Jackson, had been a 
captain in the British service, was about 40 years of 
age, of genteel appearance, and met his fate like a 
soldier. When the executioner was fixing the rope 
around his neck, he desired not to be handled so 
roughly 5 observed he was a gentleman, and spoke 
of his death being avenged. His property he requested 
should be given to his son. Ambrister (who was 
charged with a similar offence, and suffered with Ar- 
buthnot,) was a young man not exceeding 25 years. 
At first he appeared undaunted and quite indifferent 
as to his fate, but as death began to look him in the 
face, he lost his composure, and died more like a 
woman than a man. 

The prophet Francis, who was executed a little he- 
fore,had in his pocket a commission of Brigadier Gen- 
eral, from the British government supposed to have 



25G 



INDIAN WARS. 



been presented him during his late visit to England, 
whence he had not long returned. His arrival in that 
country, was thus announced in one of the English 
prints: "The double sound of a trumpet announced 
the approach of the patriot Francis, who fought so 
gloriously in our cause in America. He was dressed 
in a most splendid suit of red and gold, and by his 
side he wore a tomahawk, mounted in gold ! ? > This 
wretch is said to have been the prime mover of the un- 
provoked and infernal massacre of the garrison, with 
the women, &c. of fort Mims ; and him also who 
slaughtered Lieut. Scott and his party. An officer in 
Gen. Jackson's army, in writing to his friend, rela- 
tive to the surrender of a number of the enemy as pris- 
oners, at St. Marks, thus speaks of the family of 
Francis: 66 The wife and family of the prophet Fran- 
cis are among the prisoners. Two of his daughters 
are very interesting young ladies, and speak very 
good English, as in fact the whole family do except 
the mother. The eldest, when her father was de- 
coyed on board the American schooner, shortly af- 
ter followed, supposing her to be a British vessel ; 
before she got alongside, however, she discovered 
the deception, pushed off and made her escape. The 
youngest and most beautiful is caressed by all the 
officers, for having saved the life of a Georgia militia 
man (M^Krimmon) whom her countrymen had taken 
prisoner and were about to put to death, when this 
modern Pocahontas finding her entreaties vain, de- 
termined to save his life or perish with him. She 
was successful, and the man was preserved." 



THE END, 



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